The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League, the top and longest-lasting U-18 league, will restart on Saturday 25 June.

In the EAST, the previous champions Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) are currently in eighth place, followed by Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama), who finished in third place last year. Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Chiba), who have been in this league since the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League started in 2011, are now at the bottom. Many strong and experienced teams are struggling, which shows the difficulty of this league. 

F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) are in the lead, and have displayed their strength in attack. The coach SATO Kazuki noted; "sticking to our playing style regardless of opponents is our ideal style of football." Although the team had lost to Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) in the opening game, F.C. Tokyo won four consecutive games since then and scored in a range of different ways - individual skills, combinations among multiple players, and set pieces. The coach Sato commented prior to the third round: "although I know the toughness of the Premier League, we’d like to stay in the top group."

Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) are sitting in second place while Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) are in third, both of whom booked places in the Inter-high school championships in the summer. Ichiritsu Funabashi have displayed their traditional solid defence to earn points and conceded the least goals in the EAST. The coach ASAOKA Ryuzo noted: "we practice as hard as possible everyday, preparing for the weekend matches. It may sound like a normal thing to do. However, we can accept any result thanks to this attitude." They will stay ambitious in the second round, the middle period of the league.

Despite modesty from KURODA Go, the coach of Aomori Yamada: "it has been too good to be true", the team has stayed competitive against club youth teams with their solid defence and counter-attacks. The team kept a clean sheet and won the game against Shimizu, who are currently in fourth place, 3-0 with TAKAHASHI Issei’s opener. Just as the coach noted: "I don’t think we can pass the ball around against J Club youth teams. So we counter-attack", their strategy seems to be working.

Exciting matches to stay in the top group had been seen in the WEST. Gamba Osaka Youth are in the lead. Although Cerezo Osaka U-18 have the same points, Gamba are ahead on goal difference. The coach MIYAMOTO Tsuneyasu, the former national team center back, asks that the players judge the situation correctly, not to mention getting good results. The coach noted: "think of plays, which the opponent hates. Don’t just go through routines, but play judging the situation." If the coach achieves his aim, the team will improve even more.

Cerezo Osaka in second place have sent several main players to the U-23 team in the Meiji Yasuda J3. League. As there are no fixed starting players, the coach MURATA Kazuhiro noted: "it’s occasionally difficult to choose who to start an official match." The fresh-year players, including KIDA Hinata and SUZUKI Toichi, had an opportunity to be on the pitch, stimulating the older players. This "good surprise" may raise the level of the team.

Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) is the only team apart from top two teams, who beat Gamba Osaka in the WEST, and stay ambitious for more. Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima) are also aiming to take the lead, as the coach SAWADA Kentaro commented: "we face games calmly, unlike last year when we were playing trial and error." Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo), who are in fifth place, beat Hiroshima just before the break. The coach NODA Satoru commented: "we created an opportunity to win the championship by winning against an unbeaten Hiroshima." They seem to be confident that they can catch up in the 6th Sec.

Please stay tuned to the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League, which is becoming more exciting in the mid-season.

Premier League EAST Match Day 6

6/25
15:00　Albirex Niigata U-18 vs Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Denka Big Swan Stadium)
6/26
11:00　Aomori Yamada High School vs F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Aomori Yamada High School)
11:00　Kashima Antlers Youth vs Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Kashima Stadium)
11:00　Shimizu S-pulse Youth vs Ichiritsu Funabashi High School（Shimizu National Training Centre/J-STEP）
15:00　Omiya Ardija Youth vs Yokohama F・Marinos Youth (NACK 5 Stadium Omiya)

Premier League WEST Match Day 6

6/25
11:00　Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth vs Gamba Osaka Youth (Yoshida Soccer Park)
14:00　Vissel Kobe U-18 vs Oita Trinita U-18 (Ibukinomori Stadium)
6/26
11:00　Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 vs Higashi Fukuoka High School (Kyoto Sanga F.C. Higashijoyo Ground)
11:00　Nagoya Grampus U18 vs Ozu High School (Nagoya City Minato Soccer Stadium)
15:00　Cerezo Osaka U-18 vs Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School (Cerezo Osaka Maishima Ground)