The 23 players of the U-16 Japan National Team, ’00 Japan’, started their preparation in Mito, Ibaraki, on Wednesday 7 September in preparation for the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016, which will be held from Thursday 15 September. The ‘00 Japan’ team, which was assembled under the coach MORIYAMA Yoshiro in February 2015, won all their matches in the first qualifier last September. The team is getting ready for this coming championship in order to book a place at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The players and the staff met up at the hotel in the heavy rain. They held a one-hour meeting to share enthusiasm and aims for the championship.

The rain stopped by the time they were due to start the training session, which was a good sign for the team. The players practiced in a two-on-two and a three-on-three, focusing on plays near the ball and the quality of performance after warming up. All the players stayed highly motivated, and there was an excellent atmosphere among the players. They played a six-a-side mini game and finished the first day of their productive training camp with a practice match.

CHUMAN Kentaro, the conditioning coach, gave a lecture about dealing with jet lag after dinner. Goa in India is three and a half hours out of synchronisation with Japan. The players will work on adjusting their condition.

The team will hold a four-day training camp in Ibaraki before they leave for India on Sunday 11 September, and prepare for the first game of the championship on Friday 16 September against Vietnam.

Players' Comments

GK #1  TANI Kosei (Gamba Osaka Youth)
We started our practice in preparation for the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016. Meeting up with my teammates made me think it’s really starting. I focused on communicating with others as much as possible in the first practice session, which we held in a great atmosphere. I’d like to maintain this good rhythm for the coming first match. I’ll play with responsibility for those, who were not chosen to be here, through the championship.

DF #2  KATSURA Rikuto (Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth)
The preparation for the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016, which I’ve been really looking forward to, finally started. My teammates stay positive and motivated, and this team has become more united, aiming at the same goal. During the first training session, I focused on the detail of each play. I’ll carry responsibility for playing for the national team of our generation. I’m determined to book a place in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

DF #3  KOBAYASHI Yuki (Vissel Kobe U-18)
In the first team meeting, we shared our enthusiasm for the qualifier, which made me realise that the championship, for which we had been preparing, is finally to start. We could play harmoniously in the training session. I’d like to continue to practice hard for the rest of our training camp, remaining focused for the first game. Wining the first match and building positive momentum is vital to get through the qualifying round. I’d like to prepare well enough.

Schedule

*Local Time
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.
*If India, the hosting country of 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, advances to the semifinals, the playoff matches will be held on 29 September and 2 October deciding the fifth place among the four losing teams in the quarterfinals.