It has been more than a year and half since the team’s launch. Approximately a month remains for the first match of the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship against Hong Kong held on 6 September.

The must-win contests are about to begin for Japan to obtain the right as an Asian representative to set foot in Chile, South Africa on October 2015.

26 players who gathered in Tokamachi, Niigata have already been fully up for the first day. To snatch the 23 spots on the roster for the Asian final qualifiers, they will have a 5-day camp including two training matches against U-16 Iran National Team.

An hour after /Japan started the practice, the Iran’s squad, showing fatigue from the long trip, adjusted their condition on the next pitch as the first training in Japan. In the evening, Kato Jun (Niigata Meikun Senior High School) joined the Japan team in place of Ono Yuya (Tokai University Kumamoto Seisho Senior High School), who withdrew from the training camp due to his poor physical condition.

They will have a two-part session in the morning and afternoon tomorrow.

*98JAPAN = the nickname of U-16 Japan National Team, aiming for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile.

Comments of Head Coach and Players

YOSHITAKE Hirofumi, Head Coach
We planned a five-day and four-night camp to determine the 23-man squad for the final qualifiers. Without showing an uneasy attitude towards their rivals’ presence or the situation whether they will remain in the team or not, our players did not hold back and was vividly and cheerfully enjoying taking up the first-day training session. The tendency they were putting their all into the training was very favourable. I hope they will keep the pace during five days and four nights, not running out of gas. We will play training matches against U-16 Iran National Team on 6 and 8 of August. I hope my players will show what they can do on the pitch to the utmost.

UEDA Asato (Yokohama F･Marinos Youth)
It’s been a long time since I played with 98JAPAN members. I was successful to take part in the training session, nicely communicating with them. I individually found the importance that we should keep our concentration in various circumstances like hot temperature. In the night meeting, we watched a documentary shot about our generation. That was from a different category, but I found what was important at the bottom was a strong will and a feeling of fellowship. I will make use of what I learned today for the following training sessions and the upcoming final qualifiers. 

SHIMOGUCHI Wakaba (JFA Academy Fukushima)
The training camp started today in Tokamachi, Niigata. As the final qualifiers are coming up, we need to have a clear picture of ourselves and our team in our everyday life of the camp. I want to live for this moment to finish the camp without any regret after putting all my effort into the 5-day camp.

KAJIYAMA Kanta (Nagoya Grampus U18)
First of all, I’m grateful for getting a call-up for the training camp in Tokamachi. As this camp is in the last stage of the preparation for the Asian final qualifiers, I will actively try everything to stay on the 23-man squad for the tournament. To create a good mood for the final qualifiers, I will also try to deepen communications with my team members on and off the pitch.

Schedule

Future Schedule