This is a report on “Natori city General Sports Festival - Football (Elementary school lower grades, higher grades)” held on 4 and 5 October and, “The 15th Matsubara Cup Boys Football Tournament” held on 11 to 12 October.

Natori City General Sports Festival is the event held annually for many years, setting up various sports tournament for football, volleyball, basketball, etc. Many residents including kids to senior people take part in this historical tournament which has been enjoyed by parents in their childhood. This year’s boys football festival took place in Natori Jusanzuka Park Track Field.

And the Matsubara Cup Boys Football Tournament was organized on 11 to 12 October after four years since Great East Japan Earthquake at Kamiosabe ground and Takata elementary school ground. Natori city Jusanzuka Park Athletic Field, the venue of Boys football tournament, is the field I visited when I became coach in charge of JFA Reconstruction Support Project. The turf in center of the field was uncovered and bumpy with soil appeared on surface and the pitch was far from good condition. It turned to beautiful turf ground thanks to financial support by “toto Sports Promotion Lottery” and JFA’s seedling pot project. Planting of pot-type turf is done by all the boys’ sports clubs in Natori city.

Ohta, chairman of Natori city football association, said few words thanking them “Thank you very much for supporting us as ever. The reconstruction in Sennan district is still long way to go but it is getting better little by little. Please keep watching and supporting us.”

Many residents in Natori city located in Sennai region of Miyagi prefecture had moved to temporary house in inland from seaside and built new house there afterwards. As a result, elementary school children in districts of Aishima, Masuda and Shimomasuda increased and members of boys sports club increased accordingly, three to four teams registered and participated in this sports festival. Good news is that Shimasuda elementary school experiencing increased children expanding school building and new team called Mitazono boys sports club formed. On the other hand, managers at sports team in seaside districts of Masudanishi, Yuriage, and Yurigaoka are facing problem of decreasing number of club members.

Upon call from head coach Shirae of Takata FC requesting “Please come by all means as we restart Matsubara cup”, I visited there although it was one day. The venue was two pitches of Kamiosabe, one pitch of Takata Elementary school and held league games dividing 16 teams into blocs and tournament for deciding ranking. As head coach Shirae kept saying from spring “I want to hold our own tournament”, it was really good he made it happen. Reviving the tournament used to organize before the earthquake, I felt they have tight relationships among local people for reconstruction and their gratitude to predecessor of the event organizer and their determination of keep on holding it for years to come. This is definitely a big step forward.

Comments

SATO Yuta, Head Coach (Yuriage Boys Sports Club)
Thank you all for your support as always. We (all the boys sports teams in Natori city) planted pot-typed turf in Jusanzuka Park Field but honestly speaking I didn’t expect to grow as much as they are. Because there is limited time of training and pitch for a game, natural turf pitch is indispensable and this surely motivates children a lot.

SHIRAE Takeharu, Head Coach (Takata Football Club)
I am pleased to restart “Matsubara Cup” continually held until the earthquake. We used to hold training on three pitches of clay grounds at Matsubara Outfield Activity centre on weekends until fourth week of July. Children were on summer vacation and enjoyed swimming in the sea and did the training while coaches enjoyed talking each other. I called up teams – one team I invited in 2011 and another team who supported me after the earthquake. The game venues were far from each other but with all the people in Takata, I want to keep holding this event for giving our gratitude to those who supported us