The U-16 Japan National Team, dubbed “00JAPAN,” held practices in the morning and afternoon on the second day of their training camp for the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016.

Like on the previous day, the players kept their high motivation in the morning practice, but it was cut short after an hour due to a thunderstorm.

They resumed training in the afternoon, yet they were hit with rains again. Under the rain, they did their training mainly on 11-on-11s to prepare for the training match of the next day.

Though they were bothered by the unstable weather, but the players maintained their concentration, going through high-quality training.

After their dinner time, the team celebrated the birthday for OUCHI Issei (Yokohama FC Youth).

Also, during a meeting on the day, AKIBA Tadahiro, a coach for the Japan squad for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, gave a lecture the team on the upcoming battles in Asia.

Players' Comments

MF #4  HIRAKAWA Rei (F.C. Tokyo U-18)
The entire team practiced with high concentration both yesterday and today, doing some high-quality training. All of us understand the important of the first game, so we would like to prepare for our first game against the U-16 Vietnam National Team, putting in our 100 percent energy. U-23 Japan team coach Akiba Tadahiro told us about the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and AFC U-23 Championship and the meaning of competing at those world stage, and it made me think that I want to give all my ability even under the pressure of the final qualifier.

DF #5  SEKO Ayumu (Cerezo Osaka U-18)
Because we had to stop our training due to a thunderstorm, we couldn't spend so much time for practice today, but I think that we still did our training with high concentration. We have a good mood inside the team, and I think we are preparing for the final qualifier in high spirits. We have an exhibition tomorrow, but it will be an important preparation for our first game, so we would like to win it with the entire team.

MF #6  KIDA Hinata (Cerezo Osaka U-18)
We've had good mood in our team both on and off the pitch from the first day, and we've been able to have good preparation for the tournament. We've got rains for two days in a row, but we've been able to have good simulation for the actual tourney in India. For last year's qualifying, I wasn't able to play due to injury, so I want to capitalize on the frustration for the first game this time. Appreciating that I've been chosen as a member for the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India, I would like to give everything that I've gained and win the championship with the entire team.

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.