U-22 Japan National Team short-listed squad attended the second day of their training camp in Saga.

Eleven J.League Division2 players, and MUROYA Sei (Meiji University), as well as the defender IWANAMI Takuya, who could not attend the practice due to his illness yesterday, joined the camp. All 28 young players held a practice session in the sunshine.

Prior to the training session, the team attended a welcome ceremony laid on by Saga City and were encouraged by many people, including Saga mayor HIDESHIMA Toshiyuki and local children.

The players did an 8-on-8 exercise with a free player, and practiced keeping possession and some set pieces, as well as trying some formations. They also focused on attacking and defending in front of the goal from crosses. The coach TEGURAMORI Makoto encouraged the players enthusiastically during the session, and the players played competitively on the pitch to stay in the team for the final qualifying round in next January.

In the afternoon, the coach Teguramori paid a courtesy visit to YAMAGUCHI Yoshinori, the governor of Saga.

It was a convivial meeting in front of the gathered media. The coach Teguramori expressed his gratitude for all the support they had received in holding this training camp, and the governor responded, with warm encouragement: “Please come here again after getting through the final qualifier for the Olympics.”

The team are to hold a normal practice session in the morning on Tuesday 27 October, before a training game against Fukuoka University in the afternoon.

Players' Comments 

FW  KAMADA Daichi (Sagan Tosu)
Although I’m very pleased to be here, I know I’m only one of “the short-listed squad”. So I’ll do my best to stay in the team. I couldn’t perform well enough back in the August training camp in Kyoto due to nervousness, but I think I am getting used to the atmosphere. I’d like to display my playing style this time. I’m keen on initiating attacks, as well as scoring or assisting goals to contribute to the team as an attacking player. 

As I’m local to this area, I feel some sort of pressure. Having said that, I’ll show off the strength in running and playing near the ball as a player of Sagan Tosu, and get a good result in the match before going back to my own club team. I’ll try hard for Sagan Tosu’s supporters.

DF  NAKATANI Shinnosuke (Kashiwa Reysol)
I have been focusing on playing for the national team. After the defeat in the AFC U-19 Championship 2014, I realised that my future will change hugely depending on how much I can be involved in this team. So I’m glad that I’m here, standing at the starting line. Each individual player’s skill is very high, and there are many players here, who are much faster and much more experienced. I’d like to try step-by-step as a challenger. I know playing well near the ball is vital in Asia. In addition, I’d like to show off my strength – in the build-up.

Playing for my country means a lot to me. As I felt really frustrated in the match against Korea DPR in the AFC U-19 Championship 2014, I’d like to avenge that defeat. For that reason, I’ll do my best to stay in the team.

Schedule