The Japan Football Association has decided to make donations of \5 million each to the New Zealand Football Federation and eastern Japan from the revenues of the upcoming Japan-New Zealand friendly to help restore the footballing environment in those areas.
The donations will come from the revenues of the Kirin Challenge Cup friendly between Japan and New Zealand on March 5 at the National Stadium in Tokyo. The international friendly was initially scheduled for March 29, 2011, but had to be postponed after the East Japan Earthquake on March 11.
The JFA contributed \2 million to the NZFF shortly after their country suffered a serious earthquake on February 22, 2011.
“It has been almost three years since the two countries were hit by the earthquakes,” said JFA President Daini Kuniya. “We have made restoration activities and donations to the quake-damaged people and areas in East Japan thanks to great cooperation from FIFA, our sponsors and the football family. However, we need to continue supporting restoration work in the quake-damaged areas.”
The JFA have contributed more than \263 million in East Japan quake relief through the Japan Red Cross over the last three years, while helping to raise \972 million from the world’s football family, including FIFA, UEFA and sponsors.
The quake relief fund was mainly used to renovate and build football grounds and facilities, delivering football goods and financial aid for football clubs, and providing coaching assistance in the quake-damaged areas of East Japan.