Young soccer players to get a taste of Japanese culture

Courtney Rees
March 14, 2012

Seventeen young Canberra soccer players will embark on the trip of a lifetime next month, getting a chance to immerse themselves in the Japanese culture.

And it won't just be sushi and samurais on their agenda but an opportunity to test themselves against their Japanese rivals and learn how differently the two cultures approach the world game.

Capital Football has organised the trip through its relationship with the Nara Football Association and the budding soccer stars will be taking part in training sessions with Japanese coaches as well as play five games against Japanese opposition.

They may even be able to watch a match in the J-League - the Japanese equivalent of the A-League - on their 11-day tour. Japan has one of the strongest soccer cultures in Asia and coach Marcial Munoz believes the trip will be a great experience.

''It will a great eye-opener on the boundaries that exist between our football and their's,'' Munoz said.

''I'm really looking forward to taking this group on what is sure to be a superb tour.''

The Capital Football squad is scheduled to play against various levels of opposition ranging from high school teams, state teams and a match against Cerezo Osaka, a J-League feeder youth team.

''The quality of opposition means that we will have to be at the top of our game and the learning experience, for what is an exceptional group of players, is immeasurable.

Munoz believes that the under-13 age group is the ''perfect'' age for the boys to make the most of their experiences.

''… It is the perfect timing and the perfect age for these guys to be going and immersing themselves in these types of environments because this is where they will get the most out of all the learning and experiences that football is providing them.

''It is a fantastic opportunity and it is great timing as we say that this is the golden age of learning for footballers … and this is the age where they are going to learn the most in their footballing careers.

''I'm sure that upon their return the group will have grown as players.''

Capital Football has had a 15-year exchange history with the Nara Football Association and the two organisations have already shared similar experiences, with more than 10 tours arranged by the two organisations so far.

''This is a talented group and we are all looking forward to sampling the football lifestyle and culture of Japan and furthering the strong relationship that already exists between Canberra, Capital Football and the Nara Football Association,'' Munoz said.

The last tour between the two organisations was in 2010 and Capital Football is hoping that Nara will make a reciprocal visit for the Kanga Cup in 2013.


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