The Manchester United Premier Cup World Finals 2015, which decides the best club youth team (U-15), started on 20 July. Twenty teams, who survived the qualifying round around the world, played exciting games to get through to the knockout stage.

Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15 won the “JFA Premier Cup 2015” and are taking part in this championship as the representative of Japan. They played competitive matches against Clube Atletico Paranaense (Brazil), Genoa CFC (Italy), Esbjerg FB (Denmark), and Right to Dream (Ghana) in group B.

Group B

Clube Atletico Paranaense (Brazil)
Genoa CFC (Italy)
Esbjerg FB (Denmark)
Right to Dream (Ghana)
Kyoto Sanga F.C. (Japan)

Group Stage Day 1

Kyoto Sanga F.C. met Clube Atletico Paranaense (Brazil) and Right to Dream (Ghana) on the first day of the group stage.

It started to rain right at the beginning of their first match against Atletico. After 10 minutes in the second half, the captain EGAWA Genki, who reacted to a free kick from FUKUOKA Shinpei, headed home. Kyoto won the match against the strong team from Brazil 1-0.

In the game against Right to Dream, Fukuoka struck the opener in the 10th minute. However, the players of Right to Dream, who had better individual skills, more speed, and more stamina, turned the game around. Kyoto lost the game 2-1.
Kyoto Sanga F.C.   1-0   Clube Atletico Paranaense (Brazil)
Kyoto Sanga F.C.   1-2   Right to Dream (Ghana)

Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15 Coach and Players’ Comments

KISHIMOTO Kosuke, Coach
As Atletico was one of the strongest teams in Brazil, we expected the match would be a tough one, even if we put in a perfect performance. So we approached the match with the intention of playing our style. Although we won the game, it was very close. In the match against Ghana, although their passing speed as well as running speed was much faster, we could manage to defend systematically for a while.

However, we ended up conceding goals from small mistakes. We learned from this. People say that small things can decide the game, which was exactly what happened to us. Small mistakes can be fatal. As it’s rare to have such experiences in Japan, it was good opportunity for us and I appreciate it.

MF  FUKUOKA Shinpei
We pressed effectively and coordinated well in defence in the first match against Atletico. As a result, we could earn a free kick through the defence from the front line in the second half. I trusted that my teammates would react to my free kick, and the captain Egawa, who ran through the side, scored from a header. Then we defended solidly until the final whistle, which was good in the first match.

In terms of the second game against Right to Dream, we calmly passed the ball around until the 10th minute in the first half. However, after conceding a goal, we tended to kick the ball to the space behind the defenders due to the opponent’s swift press and we got intercepted there. We couldn’t play our style and had a difficult time with the opponent’s pace.

The players' of Right to Dream had excellent individual skills, such as dribbling and keeping the ball, not to mention their physical body strength, which prevented us from stealing the ball. I never played against such a team in Japan and I really felt the level difference. I learned I had to improve myself even more. I’m pleased that I could strike two goals in today’s two games.

I’d like to win the remaining two matches to top the group, thinking of my teammates who could not come here, and of other teams back in Japan, against whom we played to book a place in this championship.