SASAKI Norio, the Coach of Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National team) attended the official press conference which was held at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka on 25 February, and announced the 20 players selected for the Asian Qualifiers Final Round, Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016.

While experienced players such as the team’s captain midfielder MIYAMA Aya, defender IWASHIMIZU Azusa, and forward OHNO Shinobu were selected, the youngest player 20 year old goalkeeper YAMASHITA Ayaka, and other new players who haven’t experienced the FIFA Women’s World Cup or Olympic Games such as forward YOKOYAMA Kumi, and midfielder NAKAJIMA Emi were also picked.

Sasaki expressed his satisfaction with the latest camp since the players showed high performances: “we have had 2 camps in Okinawa, and the latest one in Osaka.  The young players especially showed us their potential in these camps.” He also commented: “In the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, we won most of our games by just one goal; we need to address this by scoring more goals as a team. This Asian Qualifiers Final Round is taking place in Japan, so I selected the players who can shift the supporters’ voices to their own strengths.”

Only 4 days to go to the Final Round. “It is a busy schedule since we have only one day to prepare between each of the matches, all 20 players have to get united very well.  Otherwise we can’t get one of the 2 available places to go to the Olympic. We want to get ready well checking ourselves carefully.”

This time, forward OGIMI Yuki is wearing No.10 which was the number of SAWA Homare, who has recently retired, and Sasaki also commented about this: “there are other players who are capable of taking over the No. 10 in the team. When I asked Ogimi if she would wear this number, she said strongly that she is happy to wear No.10 for the future of women’s football. I expect to see wonderful play maximising her advantages and not to be ashamed of the No. 10.”

Following an intrasquad game on the previous day, today the team only had light sessions being divided into two groups of defence and offence. The conditioning sessions were done in about one hour under the chilly and sunny weather.

The other teams for this Final Round come to Japan one after another and the time to kick off for the qualifier for the Olympic Games is coming around the corner. 

Coach and Players' Comments

SASAKI Norio, Coach
This Asian Qualifiers Final Round is held in Japan, so I selected the players who can shift the supporters’ voices to their own strengths. The first match against the Australian Women’s National team is definitely an important match for us to get momentum. We want to kick off this competition in a good way. There are only 2 places available to go to the Olympic Games and getting one of them is not easy, so we all, including players and staff, will get even more serious and motivated to get ready. For the future of Women’s football, we want everybody to watch the strength of Nadeshiko Japan. We want to go beyond where we are by playing at the Olympic Games. These things are our passion when we play in the Final Round.

DF #19  KAMIONOBE Megumi (ALBIREX NIIGATA LADIES)
For this Asian Qualifiers Final Round, it is important to get through the coming 10 days with the team’s comprehensive strengths. Including the new players, we want to get to be united even more. Compared with how we were in the first and the second camps in Okinawa, all of our conditions have been improved. We also have shared well in the team about what we need to do as a team, so we are in the very good condition. From now on, for the kick off, we just keep improving our quality as a team and as individual players. Each of the training sessions is getting more important, so I want to stick to even the fine details. 

GK #18  YAMASHITA Ayaka (NIPPON TV BELEZA)
This is my first experience, but as a player who was selected for the squad team, I will do my best to qualify for the Olympic Games. While looking very closely at what the senior players do, I want to improve myself. If I get any chance to play in the game, I want to attract the flow of the play just like goalkeeper KUSHIBIKI Masatoshi (Kashima Antlers) who is a player of the U-23 Japan National Team. MURAMATSU, who wasn’t selected this time, and I promised to play together as teammates in the Olympic Games. There are the current and former teammates who have worked hard together to come here, I am not afraid any more. 

Nadeshiko Channel (Japanese version only)

Schedule

*The schedule and venues are subject to change.

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