On 12 November, the 4th All Japan Seniors (over 40) football tournament kicked off in Fujieda city, Shizuoka. In this article MAEDA Osamu, who is a former forward player of Japan National Team and Yokohama Flügels, talks about what attracts people to senior football and his passion for the upcoming tournament.

- What attracts people to play senior football?

Maeda: Personally, I joined in the former squad member team’s event about 4 times a year, and there I could play with the players whom I could not play together with due to generation difference. Another thing is that we can play beyond ex-teams; we used to be enemies in the J. League before but now as retired players we can enjoy playing together. That gives us such a pleasure and a dream. This event is very similar to what I can get from senior football. When I joined in the team 10 years ago, popular comedian KINASHI Noritake and football commentator KAWAZOE Koichi were members and I could also play with senior and well-known players of Teikyo Senior High School. It was what I had kept dreaming of, and the dream came true for me, so I was very happy. There are younger players than me in T. Dreams and I appreciate them for saying “it is good to play with you since we can learn from your experience as a squad player and it is fun to play together.”

- You can now register for the senior age tournament of over 50s.

Maeda: When I became 50 years-old, many teams gave me offers but our team’s Playing Manager HONDA Yasuto didn’t allow me to move by saying: “Never. You have to play in our age category of 40s.” Personally, I think I can play easier in the group of age 50s, but it is difficult for me to play for multiple teams. Moreover, I thought I should appreciate the fact that younger people tell me to stay in the current team, and I have kept playing with them.

- To be a star player in senior football, what kind of abilities are required?

Maeda: People might think that former professional players don’t need to move a lot in senior football but it is not easy. Personally, I cannot move as fast as I used to be able to, so I try to hide it with some skills with my foot but there was a player who kept following me even when I broke through his defence by dribbling once. After the match, I had a chance to talk with him and I got to know that he had not experienced football before but he does triathlon; fit players have more advantages most of all.

- What did you find by playing for a senior football team of players in their 40s for 10 years?

Maeda: It has been more than 20 years since J. League launched and I feel that Japan’s football level has improved. One of the reasons for sure is there are more players than before, but another factor can be the change of people’s attitude towards football. I think senior football is one of the worlds where people who continued to be involved in football because they just like football. I think it is very good if we can keep playing football throughout your life at your own pace, and that makes me happy.

- Please talk about your passion towards the upcoming the 4th All Japan Seniors (over 40) football tournament.

Maeda: We have the chance to play in this tournament so we just want to win the title. We have been in a good mood after winning the second-consecutive title in the senior league. When I played as a professional player, I used to be a part of winning big national-level titles such as the Emperor’s Cup, therefore I just automatically get excited when I have any chance of playing in a “national-level” competition. There is something which uplifts my passion as a football player.

Another thing I look forward to is playing against other senior players who have the same spirit and passion as I do, from all over Japan. Of course, I want to win the title, but honestly speaking, I have more feeling that I just enjoy football than chasing victories. What I enjoy is the respect that we show to each other as well as playing with younger players. It is nice if there will be more people who know that former squad/professional players enjoy senior football and if more players would be happy to join us and boost senior football together with us.

The 4th All Japan Seniors (over 40) Football Tournament

2016-11-12(Sat.)-14(Mon.)
Match Venue： Fujieda Sports Complex Park Athletic Field(Natural Turf), Sports Complex Park Athletic Field (Artificial Turf), Fujieda Sports Complex Park Soccer Stadium (Natural Turf), Fujieda City Soccer Ground (Natural Turf)
Tournament Information