With the AFC U-19 Championship Bahrain 2016 getting underway in a few days, U-19 Japan National Team undertook a practice match on Wednesday 10 October, the last practice match before the tournament’s opening. In the following morning, the squad had recovery training including walk-around and stretching to wrap up the preparation camp in Dubai. In the early afternoon of the same day, they travelled from Dubai to Bahrain with their first match of the said tournament three days away. 

The next day, Wednesday 12, was spared for checking out Bahrain National Stadium, the facility used for three group stage matches, including getting the feel of the turf. After that, they moved to another field designated for practice, taking on the first workout in Bahrain. As coach UCHIYAMA Atsushi said “Maintain the high level of concentration and imagine how the match (against Yemen) is going to be,” his players intensely workout out for 90 minutes. 

Players' Comments

MF #21 HARA Teruki (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
Being selected to the U-19 National Team, I am half happy and half nervous. But now that I am here on this team, I want to play with my best to take advantage of my strength and contribute to the team. This team have players who are already playing as a professional, so it has been a good experience to play with those guys. The first goal of this tournament is to get a ticket to the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Then after achieving that, we want to win as many matches as possible. 

DF #22 ITAKURA Kou (Kawasaki Frontale)
We got here in Bahrain and we are now in the final preparation phase in order to show what we have built up at the actual tournament. Including physical conditions, everyone has been able to prepare himself very well. The first match is coming up very soon, and what we have to do now is to make sure the details of each play. As for the first match of tournaments, it’s important for you all to carry the same mindset. So we focus on that first of all, and we want to gain the momentum by winning the match no matter what.

GK #23 WAKAHARA Tomoya (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18)
We arrived in Bahrain. If you compare to the UAE where we just had a camp, it’s cooler and better-suited for us to move around, so I think we all played well in today’s training. The longer the trip gets, the more communication opportunities we have available during meals and traveling. The mood among the team has gotten better. We will have the first match of the tournament two days later. We will make sure to win it and get us on a good rhythm. 

Schedule

*Local Time
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.
*The Championship's top four ranked teams will then fly the Asian flag at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017. If Korea Republic, the hosting country of 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, advances to the semifinals, the playoff matches will be held deciding the fifth place among the four losing teams in the quarterfinals.

AFC U-19 Championship Bahrain 2016

2016-10-13(Thu.)-2016-10-30(Sun.)
More Information