The JFA conducted U-14’s Korea Republic tour under the JFA Elite Programme from 28 September to 3 October. The tour was held as part of the JOC Japan Korea Joint Sports Project for enhancing playing skills, as Japan and Korea Republic have had a joint training camp since 2010.
With the JFA Elite Programme coordinated with National Training Centre’s U-13 and U-14 projects, the program aims to provide good environment and good coaching to highly-qualified players and to further raise their ability at highly competitive environment, as it works on “fostering individuals” and “encouraging players’ self-reliance.”

Match Result

Training Match   Tue. 30 September 2014

Kickoff 15:30     Match time 30min x 3
MIFC (Mokpo/Korea)

U-14 Japan Selection   0-2 (1st0-0, 2nd0-1, 3rd0-1)   U-14 Korea Selection

Scores
51min   Goal against (U-14 Korea Selection)
87min   Goal against (U-14 Korea Selection)

Starters
GK： TANI Kosei
DF： KIDA Hinatao, SEKO Ayumu, KENMOTSU Takumu, TOKUNAGA Haruto
MF： SUZUKI Toichi, TAMURA Yujiro,  AWANO Kento,  HIRAKAWA Rei, KATSURA Rikuto
FW：NAKAMURA Keito

2nd
GK：TANI Kosei
DF：TAKE Mahiro, SEKO Ayumu, KENMOTSU Takumu, SONE Takayuki
MF：HONMA Shion, YAMAHO Riku, KAWAHARA Atsushi, NARUSE Shunpei
FW：IKETAKA Nobuki

3rd
GK： AOKI Kokoro
DF： YAMAHO Riku, SEKO Ayumu, TOKUNAGA Haruto, KATSURA Rikuto
MF： WAKATSUKI Teru, AWANO Kento, KIDA Hinata, HIRAKAWA Rei, SUZUKI Toichi
FW： NAKAMUR Keito

Substitutes
GK： AOKI Kokoro
DF:   TAKE Mahiro, WAKATSUKI Teru　
MF： KAWAHARA Atsushi, SONE Takayuki, HONMA Shion, NARUSE Shunpei, YAMAHO Riku
FW： IKETAKA Nobuki

47min　TANI Kosei → AOKI Kokoro
58min　KENMOTSU Takuho → HIRAKAWA Rei
75min　NAKAMURA Keito → IKETAKA Nobuki
75min　WAKATSUKI Teru → NARUSE Shunpei

Training Match    Thu. 2 October 2014

Kickoff 15:30   Match time (40min x 2)
MIFC (Mokpo/Korea)

U-14 Japan Selection   1-1 (1st half 1-1, 2nd 0-0)   U-14 Korea Selection

Scores
28min　Goal against (U-14 Korea Selection)
36min   KATSURA Rikuto (U-14 Japan Selection) 

Starters
1st
GK：TANI Kosei
DF：WAKATSUKI Teru, SEKO Ayumu, HIRAKAWA Rei, TOKUNAGA Haruto
MF：SUZUKI Toichi, KIDA Hinata, YAMAHO Riku, AWANO Kento, KATSURA Rikuto
FW：IKETAKA Nobuki

2nd
GK：TANI Kosei
DF：WAKATSUKI Teru, SEKO Ayumu, HIRAKAWA Rei, TOKUNAGA Haruto
MF：TAKE Mahiro, KIDA Hinata, TAMURA Yujiro, AWANO Kento, KATSURA Rikuto
FW：NAKMURA Keito

Substitutes
GK：AOKI Kokoro
DF：TAKE Mahiro
MF：KAWAHARA Atsushi, SONE Takayuki, HONMA Shion, NARUSE Shunpei, TAMURA Yujiro
FW：NAKAMURA Keito

HT   SUZUKI Toichi → TAKE Mahiro
HT   YAMAHO Riku → TAMURA Yujiro
HT   IKETAKA Nobuki → NAKAMURA Keito
53min   WAKATSUKI Teru → KAWAHARA Atsushi
55min   TOKUNAGA Haruto → NARUSE Shunpei
69min   KIDA Hinata → SONE Takayuki
69min   AWANO Kento → HONMA Shion
69min   TANI Kosei → AOKI Kokoro

Comments

KIMURA Kokichi, Head Coach of Elite Program U-14
We had a Korea (Republic) tour and held a training camp including two friendlies against Korea National Team at Mokpo Training Centre as the second Elite Program U-14 of 2014. We selected 20 players (18 field players with two goal keepers) most of who joined the National Training Centre U-14. In the games against Korea, we utilised our strengths, “technique” and “group efforts on collective offence and defence” to battle out for a victory until the end of the games. The camp should bring high motivation and good experience to players, by having the training and games in the tense atmosphere.

HIRAKAWA　Rei（FC Tokyo U-15 Musashi）
In the Korea game, we could experience the pressure and physical intensity that we don’t really experience in Japan. I felt we need to try to collectively get the ball and fight tenaciously against such opponents. We created a lot of chances in the game but couldn’t win as we couldn’t turn them into a goal. After I get back to my team, I’ll keep them in mind and work hard in training.

AWANO Kento（Vegalta Sendai Junior Youth）
At the training camp, I tried to get spaces behind the opposing backline, and tried not to get caught by the opposition. Against the Korean National team, I had difficulty coping with the opposing intensity toward the ball and speed, which we can hardly experience in Japan. On the other hand, I realised Korea didn’t like our tenacious defence. At the camp, I found something that I need to improve from now on like how to receive the ball and always trying to shoot and defending tenaciously. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to many people who have helped me join the camp.

SEKO Ayumu（Cerezo Osaka U-15）
I learned a lot of things at the Korea tour. I’ve got two things that I learned particularly. The first thing was the importance of physical intensity. With our regular physical contact, we couldn’t easily get the ball against Korean players. The second was the aerial battles. The opponents were well-built and had good physical ability, but I found we could overcome them with more creative efforts. The games against Korea turned out to be very good experience. I’ll take advantage of what I learned from the trip in my daily life and training.