U-16 Japan National Team started their final domestic training camp before the AFC U-16 Championship in Sugadaira, Nagano. 25 players, ‘98JAPAN’, who got through this tough summer, will stay at a height of 1300 m above sea level for their training sessions until 23 August.

On the first day of the camp, Namba Katsumi and Murai Shinji, who are lecturers at Tamagawa University, held the ‘Project Adventure’ session, which is about using awareness for self-improvement.
Although the players looked excited before the session - if a little nervous at the same time - Namba’s exquisite conversation skills soon had the staff as well as the players in fits of laughter. It was a very important experience in convincing the players that they had indeed improved ahead of the Asian final qualifying round.

Tomorrow the players will continue with ‘Project Adventure’ held by Murai Shinji in order to build up the team.
They will prepare themselves thoroughly in the limited time for the training camp and fly to Thailand for the championship on 26 August.

*98JAPAN = the U-16 Japan National Team, that aims at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

Head Coach Comment

YOSHITAKE Hirofumi　Head Coach
We attended the ‘project adventure’ session, which aimed at building up the team, because now the starting players for the final qualifying round are fixed. Some players couldn’t make it due to the nationwide competition or the mini-National Sports Festival, though. Under the mentorship of Mr. Namba and Mr. Murai, who are lecturers at Tamagawa University, the players applied themselves in pairs to the problem-solving sessions. The purpose was to get to know ourselves, know others and decide what to do next, so that we can be independent. I know the players were relieved to have been selected for the team, and they all looked bright and had a proactive attitude in this interesting session. We’ll know how much they learned here on the pitch, where they need to come out of their shells and play their game. I also believe it will help them to be mentally stable at the AFC U-16 Championship in Bangkok. They’ll try the problem-solving sessions in groups tomorrow.

Players Comments

INOUE Seiya（Cerezo Osaka U-18）
We attended the ‘project adventure’ session today. I felt nervous at first, as I didn’t have a clue what it’d be like. During the session, I communicated with other players in new and different ways through many sorts of games. We were required to be serious and concentrate during these fun sessions. It was unusual training for me. From tomorrow I’ll keep in mind what I learned today.

TOMIYASU Takehiro（Avispa Fukuoka U-18）
It’s been a while since I last joined 98JAPAN. As we haven’t got much time before the final qualifying round of the AFC U-16 Championship, I’d like to fit in with the team quickly and really show off my skills. Also I want to actively communicate with others even when we’re not on the pitch in order to become a united team for the qualifying round.

DOAN Ritsu（Gamba Osaka Youth）
This domestic training camp is the last one before the final qualifying round. I’d like to get myself ready both physically and mentally. We had the ‘project adventure’ session on the first day. We learned many deep things through various games. I will continue to motivate the team tomorrow. 

Future Schedule