As part of the Japan Football Association’s (JFA) commitment to support “JENESYS 2018,” a programme promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Japan-ASEAN U-19 Women Football Tournament kicked-off on Saturday 2 March at Yomitan Village, Okinawa. Day one of the tournament featured a total of four matches played between U-19 Japan Women's National Team vs U-19 Thailand Women's National Team, U-19 Myanmar Women's National Team vs U-19 Vietnam Women's National Team, U-19 Malaysia Women's National Team vs U-19 Laos Women's National Team, and U-19 Cambodia Women's National Team vs U-19 Singapore Women's National Team. The local sides, Okinawa Prefecture High School Women's Select Team and Vicsale Okinawa FC Nabiita Youth will play their first match on Sunday 3 March. The tournament will serve as an exchange platform for the youth of Japan and the ASEAN countries.

Each team arrived in Okinawa on Thursday 28 February, as they conducted training sessions and participated in an orientation prior to the tournament. Also, on Friday 1 March, Coach MIYAMOTO Tomomi of the U-19 Japan Women's National Team held a lecture to introduce the history of the development of women’s football in Japan, the development system, strengthening programmes, and the Nadeshiko Vision to the participants.

The participating players showed great interests in the Japanese culture that strives for a society where women can shine brighter through the sport of football.

Players' Comments

CHANHTHAVONGXAY APHATSALA (U-19 Laos Women's National Team)
I am very happy to be in Japan. Laos is a landlocked country, so I was very impressed by the beautiful beach of Okinawa. We faced Malaysia in our first match and drew against them. I am relieved that we managed to complete our first match without any issues. In the lecture given to better understand Japan, I was inspired by the toughness of the Japanese women’s football players and their mental strengths. I hope I can come visit Japan again in the future.

KIET SIVHORNG (U-19 Cambodia Women's National Team)
This is may first time participating in this programme and I am very happy to be here. The match has given me the opportunity to re-evaluate my football skills, learn from the opponents, and compensate what I lack as a football player. Japan is a very advanced country with organised infrastructure and the air is clean. I think Japan is a great country and I hope to revisit this country in the future.

Schedule

*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

JENESYS 2018 Japan-ASEAN U-19 Women Football Tournament

Tournament Dates: Sat. 2 - Wed. 6 March 2019
Tournament Venue: Zanpa Point Ball Park/Yomitan Village Athletics Field (Yomitan Village, Okinawa)
Tournament Information