The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League is the top league competition for high school age players and the new quarter of the season will kick-off on 27 June.

The League has finished 6 matches and Kashima Antlers Youth（Ibaraki）is now on top. Based on its consistent defense led by DF MACHIDA Koki, who is a prospective U-18 squad player, the team has conceded only two goals so far.

The team in second position, Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) is chasing Kashima and is only two points behind. They also have a reputation for many years for having a strong defense. They have conceded three goals so far and their defense has also seemed to be improved.  Due to prominent forwards such as NAGATO Ayumu, who is a fast runner, and KUDO Yuki, who has a high scoring accuracy, Ichiritsu Funabashi High School has put them in contention to win the league. “We should keep our tension high, otherwise we will lose future matches,” says the team’s head coach ASAOKA Ryuzo.

F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) who competes in this League for the first time, has shown its aggressive play in both defense and offense. Under the direction of SATO Kazuki, the team’s head coach, they have had consecutive wins since they lost the first match against Kashima 0-1. Their key player FW SATO Ryo is the leading scorer with ten goals which includes two hat tricks.

Omiya Ardija Youth（Saitama） is also a first time player in this League but they are a threat to the other teams due to their potent offense which is expressed as the “strongest of Premier League EAST.” Even though they are challenging against intensive defense throughout the previous matches and have scored 8 goals, the team hasn’t lost any matches so far. They still have a chance to join in the top competition if they can win their upcoming matches. 

In Premier League WEST, both Cerezo Osaka U-18 and Gamba Osaka Youth have 15 points and they have competed against each other intensively since the League started. Cerezo Osaka U-18 still has key players such as SHOJI Honoya and KISHIMOTO Takeru and their level of play has been high. Advantages of the team this year are not only its well-known physical strength and intensiveness, but also the amount of skillful players who controls the ball very well.

Gamba Osaka Youth also works hard to win the title since some of their prominent players, such as TAKAGI Akito, ICHIMARU Mizuki who accomplished winning three titles of national major competitions when they were junior youth players, will graduate from the team this year. Watch out this intensive competition between the two teams from Osaka.

Two high school teams have also worked well to catch up with the mentioned two teams. Higashi Fukuoka High School（Fukuoka） conceded six goals in the first match against Cerezo Osaka U-18, but they have adjusted their issues after this bitter experience.

Their tactic, which initiates from consistent defense and then moving the ball quickly to quick offense, works effectively and the team has conceded only one goal during the five matches since the first match. The team has positively changed to expect victories.

Kyoto Tachibana High School（Kyoto）, who couldn’t win any matches until the match day 9 last year, has already got 4 points at this time. Expected U-18 squad player IWASAKI Yuto and some other players who experienced last year’s Premier League are playing well together this year.

The other teams such as Oita Trinita U-18（Oita）, who could successfully defend their goal allowing only four shots from Cerezo Osaka U-18, and Vissel Kobe U-18 who got eight goals on match day 6 against Nagoya Grampus U18（Aichi）, also work consistently to move into the top competition. 

The rest of the matches of the League will definitely be exciting and will be full of energy. 

Premier League EAST Matchday 7, 27 June and 28 June

6/27
11:00　JFA Academy Fukushima  vs  Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Tokinosumika Ground Tokinosumika Sports Centre)
16:00　Omiya Ardija Youth  vs  F.C. Tokyo U-18 (NTT East Japan Shiki Sogo Ground)
16:00　Kashiwa Reysol U-18  vs  Kashima Antlers Youth (Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium)
6/28
11:00　Shimizu S-Pulse Youth  vs  Aomori Yamada High School (Shimizu National Training Centre/J-STEP)
11:00　Consadole Sapporo U-18  vs  Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Sapporo Soccer Amusement Park)

Premier League WEST Matchday 7, 27 June and 28 June

6/27
11:00　Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth  vs  Gamba Osaka Youth (Yoshida Soccer Park)
13:00　Higashi Fukuoka High School  vs  Oita Trinita U-18 (Level 5 Stadium)
6/28
11:00　Nagoya Grampus U18  vs  Riseisha High School (Toyota Sports Centre)
16:00　Vissel Kobe U-18  vs  Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Ibuki no mori sports football field)
17:00　Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18  vs  Kyoto Tachibana High School (Kyoto Sanga F.C. Higashi Joyo Ground)