Pick-up Match
Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 vs Higashi Fukuoka High School

The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League, the top high-school age competition, will restart this weekend. The 6th Sec. of WEST on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June will see a game between Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) and Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka).

Kyoto, who will play a home game, is currently in eighth place with no victory so far. The team, however, played competitively against strong teams, namely Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka), Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka), and Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) in the Kansai qualifying round of the JAPAN Club Youth (U-18) Football Championship, building up their confidence. The coach MORIOKA Ryuzo, who had been leading the team to improve skills and tactics in everyday practice, commented: ‘what we need is a strong mentality to earn victories. I’d like the players to show their spirit to live the football life with their own strengths.’

Higashi Fukuoka, on the other hand, have won three consecutive games since the competition started, and are currently ranked third in WEST, which is the best among the teams of the All Japan High School Athletic Federation.

During the hiatus, the team won the Fukuoka qualifying round of the Inter-high school championships (Inter High School Sports Festival/ Football). Although they want to bring positive momentum back to the league, the coach MORISHIGE Junya explained his concerns: ‘the players may struggle with the match duration difference between the qualifying round and the league, and find it difficult to adjust the team to a strategy for a long-lasting league.’ The players are required to be flexible in their first game after restarting the league.

Coaches' Comments

MORIOKA Ryuzo, Coach (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18)
We couldn’t win a single match against Higashi Fukuoka High School last year, getting a loss and a draw. The players, who were on the pitch for those games, must feel something for this coming match. Even if they don’t, when we play a team from the All Japan High School Athletic Federation, we tend to become more determined to win. I’d like to the players to forget about the past and display what they can do on the pitch. I expect them to improve every aspect, including technical skills and stamina. Above all, I want them to acquire toughness to play at a higher level. I hope they will learn competitiveness to survive and cooperativeness to play harmoniously as a team.

MORISHIGE Junya, Coach (Higashi Fukuoka High School)
I think it’ll be a vital game – if we win, we can remain in the top group, but if we lose, we will drop places. Although we are currently sitting in third place, it’s only the beginning of the league, and some teams have only played fewer matches than us. So Higashi Fukuoka’s current rank is not necessarily a genuine one. We need to improve accuracy in both attack and defence. It’s also essential not to waste stamina, as it’s getting hotter. There are plenty of tasks for us to work on. All we need is to improve our problems, while playing hard in the coming games.

Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18  vs  Higashi Fukuoka High School
Date: Sun. 26 June　kick-off 11:00
Venue: Kyoto Sanga F.C. Higashijoyo Ground
Access: 15-minute by taxi from "Okubo’ Station" (Kintetsu Kyoto Line)
             Near the Joyo Sansan Bus stop "Sanga Town Joyo", which runs from "Joyo Station" (JR Nara Line) or "Terada Station" (Kintetsu Kyoto Line)

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　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)

Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima), who are sitting in fourth place with three points less than the leading team, will play a home game against Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka). Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) beat Hiroshima in the previous Sec., and will meet Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita), aiming to win consecutive matches. Ozu High School (Kumamoto) will play against Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) in their third game of the league. Ozu will play to earn their first victory. Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka) in second place will meet Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School (Hyogo), aiming to earn three points in their home ground, in which they had played and won two games.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Match Day 5 Digest

More information