Tue. 15 March

The U-17 Japan National Team started their activities on 15 March. This is for the upcoming SANIX Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament 2016 which will take place from 17 March at Global Arena in Munakata, Fukuoka. This team has a wide range of players aged from 14-17 years old who were born after 1 January, 1999. 6 players of the U-16 Japan National Team, who will take part in the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 in September, are included in this team and they are expected to encourage their team mates of different ages.

The players arrived at the venue around mid-day and started training sessions from the afternoon. Under Assistant Coach SAITO Toshihide’s lead, the players kicked off the warming-up session by raising voices to motivate each other; the beginning of the training went on positively. In the pass & control exercise in 3-on-2 situation, training staff gave a pep talk to the players to improve their quality of pass. In the 3-on-3 session in front of the goal, they gradually became to understand the other teammates’ characteristics and play styles and raised their voice even more to encourage each other. At the end of the day, they had 6-on-6 and 10-on-10 sessions and finished the first day. 

Wed. 16 March

On the second day of the training, they had a set of sessions in both morning and afternoon. After warming-up, they had the pass & control in 2-on-2 as on the previous day. Then they had other sessions such as 4-on-4 + a free man in a narrow area, and 5-on-4 and 8-on-8 including a goalkeeper. Communication amongst the players became more active and they tried to make good passes which maximises the advantages of each other’s’ play, and to receive these passes in better ways.

In the afternoon, the team had training which focused on set plays for the match planned on the next day. For the intensive competitions in front of the goal, they stopped their play frequently to check carefully about the good timing to raise a cross and positioning. In the end, they had 11-on-11 internal practice match.

In the evening, the players were invited to the welcome party of this competition. Total 16 teams showed characteristic performances and there was a programme that all players joined. Towards the end of the event, all players shared a communal sense of joy. 

SANIX Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament 2016 will kick off on 17th. The U-17 Japan National Team will play against the U-17 Uzbekistan National Team in the morning, and in the afternoon, against the U-17 Korea Republic High School Federation Selection.

Players' Comments

DF  SUGIYAMA Danto (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
I’m very happy to be selected as a squad player for the first time. The team’s atmosphere is gradually getting better by having active communication. Today we have had a good quality of training even in a short time. I have learned a lot from my teammates’ play. From tomorrow, I want to contribute to the team’s victory maximising my advantages.

DF  FUJIMATSU Kouya (Sagan Tosu U-18)
I’m happy to be called up for the national team after a while. When I was selected for the U-16 Japan National team last year, we were beaten by U-17 Uzbekistan National team and I haven’t forgotten that bitter experience so I am excited to play against them tomorrow. I want to play well particularly what we have done in the training such as competition in 1-on-1 situation, having a good distance between defense players, and having good positioning. I want to enjoy this completion with my teammates, having good level of concentration to win the upcoming matches.

MF  NISHIYAMA Taiga (Yokohama F・Marinos Youth)
I was simply happy to be chosen after a long time. By experiencing training with my teammates and matches against other countries, I want to know both my level as a player and the highest level of our age. Then I want to understand well about what kind of play I am good at, and what to do to improve. The level of strengths of this national team in intensive competition including 1-on-1 should be stronger than I expect; otherwise I can never get the ball, so I will keep my mind even more focused than usual. I will do my best for the team and maximise this given chance to break through the qualifying round. 

Schedule

*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

[SANIX Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament 2016 Participating team]

Group A: U-17 Japan National team, U-17 Uzbekistan National Team, U-17 Korea Republic High School Federation Selection, U-17 Beijing Selection
Group B: Seiryo Senior High School, Avispa Fukuoka Youth, Aomori Yamada High School, Higashi Fukuoka High School
Group C: Ichiritsu Funabashi High School, Oita Trinita Youth, Otsu High School, Kyushu International University High School
Group D: Kokugakuin Kugayama High School, Omiya Ardija Youth, High school attached to Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science, Tokai University Daigo Senior High School