The draw for the JFA Premier Cup 2015 was held on Saturday 2 May at a hotel in Sakai, Osaka. This championship will decide the best team of the U-15 generation in Japan, just like the Prince Takamado Cup All-Japan Youth (U-15) Football Championship, which is held annually in December. The winner will earn a place at ‘the Premier Cup World Finals 2015’, which will include strong club teams from all over the world. The staff and players from 12 teams across the country, who got through the tough qualifying round, came to the draw the day before the championship.

SAKOI Shinya, the head coach of the previous champions, Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Junior Youth (Chugoku/Hiroshima), appeared on the stage after the opening ceremony. Sakoi, who participated in the World Finals last year as a coach, commented: ‘although we ended up in 11th place in the World Finals, the players experienced a different culture and style, which has led to their improvement subsequently. As all the participating teams at this championships are excellent, we’d like to play to win as many games as possible.’

Then each captain from the participating teams appeared on stage for the draw. They all looked nervous. Koizumi Yoshihito, the captain of Nagaoka Junior Youth FC (Hokushinetsu/Niigata) started first and soon the flicker of excitement with each result spread around the venue. Nagaoka, the only team, which is based in its local town, will play in Group A with Sanfrecce Bingo Junior Youth FC (Chugoku/Hiroshima), Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15 (Kansai/Kyoto) and Ehime FC U-15 (Shikoku/Ehime). The captain Koizumi noted: ‘we’re confident that we won’t be outdone by club teams from J.League. I hope we’ll be relaxed and play our style.’

Hiroshima, who aim at becoming back-to-back champions, will play in one of the toughest group - Group C - with FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa (Kanto/Tokyo), Nagoya Grampus U15 (Tokai/Aichi) and Oita Trinita U-15 (Kyushu/Oita). TAKAO Shogo, the captain, noted with enthusiasm: ‘we’re the only ones who can become back-to-back champions. We’ll play at full power to win the championship.’ The players set their mind for the matches tomorrow.

The players had a meal together in the relaxing atmosphere after the draw. They enjoyed a pleasant chat with other players from across the teams. The championship will be held from Sunday 3 May to Tuesday 5 May 2015 at J-GREEN SAKAI in Osaka.

The JFA Premier Cup 2015

Date: Sunday 3 May to Tuesday 5 May 2015
Location: J-GREEN SAKAI (in Sakai, Osaka)
Semi-finals will be broadcast live on JFA-TV from 14:00 on Monday 4 May

Details of the result can be found here.

Details of the result can be found here.