The 15th All Japan Seniors (over 60) Football Tournament and the Seniors (over 70) Football Festival began on Saturday 30 May in Yubari, Hokkaido as teams assembling from all over the nation compete on their skills during the three-day event.

Former Japanese international star Mr. OKUDERA Yasuhiko (Yokosuka Senior Soccer Club) also sees action in this tournament. Mr. Okudera, who used to play in the German Bundesliga 1970s through 1980s and was given a nickname of "Oriental computer," told us his motivation for the tournament.

――Tell us about your meeting with senior football

OKUDERA: It was when I was 44 or 45. I had my favourite yakitori (chicken BBQ) bar near my house. Some of my current club members heard I was a regular of the bar and one day came to scout me and see if I was interested in joining Yokosuka Senior.

I was surprised at first, but it was fun when I actually kicked the ball with them. The team members were enjoying football and also, to some extent, had competitive mindset. And other players were also working on it seriously. So I thought "This is something that I can get into," and started to play seriously.

――You can enjoy only when you get serious.

OKUDERA: Players who play on national tournaments must be practising not only with their team but also as an individual. When we face strong teams, I feel they are disciplined and each of them has high motivation. My team also need to seriously work hard to be competitive. I also get scolded while I play.

――When you were playing football in Germany, how were the senior generation there going about football?

OKUDERA: There is a cycle where they enjoy football as a lifelong sport. They spend the time cheering for their favourite club on weekends and kicking the ball with their peers weekday nights. I saw such kind of people many times. I think Japanese senior football environment has also improved and has been developed as nicely as Germany's I've got a real feel that there have been more and more teams and population enjoying senior football, and I believe they will be increasing even more.

――What do you think is the appeal of senior football?

OKUDERA: That's clearly kicking the ball with people loving football. We go to Tokinosumika in Shizuoka for a camp and take part in invitation matches in other prefectures. Everytime we do that, I feel a surge of pleasure to kick the ball. After a match or practice, we have a social gathering called after-match. The appeal of senior football is that we can exchange friendship with various people.

―― Lastly let us know your determination for the tournament.

OKUDERA: We have kept working on hard training every day under our head coach who likes practice. As long as we join the contest, we will go for the championship. And we will enjoy the time with keeping winning in mind. I'm looking forward to playing against teams from different regions but also playing in Yubari. I remember I had football clinics for kids there and can't wait to play at the great venue.

The 15th All Japan Seniors (over 60s) Football Tournament

Date: Sat. 30 May - Mon. 1 June 2015
Venue: Sun-Green Sport Village (Yubari Heiwa Sport Park)
More information (Japanese version only)

The 15th All Japan Seniors (over 70s) Football Tournament

Date: Sat. 30 May - Mon. 1 June 2015
Venue: Sun-Green Sport Village (Yubari Heiwa Sport Park)
More information (Japanese version only)