[Japan Mini Football Association] 4 Japanese players join the Celtic FC youth organization!
*Japan Mini Football Association*
Press release: September 20, 2024
**
Four Japanese players join Celtic FC’s youth organization!
*4 Japanese players join Celtic FC’s youth organization! He will practice as part of the development of young players. *
From left: Sumora Akahoshi, Yuki Maruyama, Souji Heike, Minato Hirose Japan Mini Football Association (Representative Director Takumi Kushiyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
JMF) and Celtic FC, to which Japanese representatives Daenen Maeda, Reo Hatate, and Kogo Furuhashi belong, have implemented a training program for four Japanese players to join Celtic FC’s junior organization (academy) for the purpose of developing young players. Ta.
Talent ID Project started as a talent discovery project
As part of the training program, elite players from Japan were discovered to participate in the practice, including Yuki Maruyama (Chita JY), Souji Heike (Yamada Club), Sumora Akahoshi (Musashino FC), and Minato Hirose (Eldorado FC). participated.
Yuki Maruyama and Soji Heike, who are part of Celtic FC’s youth organization, were also invited to a training match held on the weekend. The opponent in the training match is rival Rangers FC. Maruyama had 4 goals and 2 assists, and Heike had 1 goal and 3 assists. In addition to training, he participated as a ball boy in a game played by last year’s champion Celtic women’s team, watched a Celtic top team game, and said hello to Daizen Maeda.
This Talent ID Project is based on discovering hidden talents across the country. In domestic activities, we hold training camps and training in various regions with the aim of conveying the essence of soccer. We also hold a Center of Excellence where only outstanding athletes selected from all over the country participate.
In our overseas activities, we provide content that allows athletes to experience and experience the real thing, and to influence their future vision.
Celtic FC
Celtic FC won the Champions League in 1967. At the time, it was the first Northern European country to win. The club is based at Celtic Park, the largest stadium in Scotland. In Japan, it is also known for the success of Shunsuke Nakamura.
Comments from participating players
Minato Hirose (Eldorado)
What I learned in Scotland this time was how to make quick decisions to move the ball quickly when passing the ball, the passing speed in passing practice, one-on-one, the strength of the defender, the speed of closing, and so on. I was able to understand the issues. In particular, I felt that the intensity of the competition on the ball and one-on-one matches was higher than in Japan.
︎It was a great experience for me as I was able to learn things that are not often taught in Japan, such as how to easily aim for a goal and dribbling techniques.
Souji Heike (Yamada Club)
This was my first time abroad and I was very excited. I was really looking forward to practicing with Celtic Academy, and everyone at the academy greeted me a lot and was very kind and kind. (Even though I only understood a little English lol). The practice was very intense and the hits were very strong. In practice, I felt that I was superior in some areas with my feet (technique), so I can apply myself overseas! I thought that and it gave me confidence. The Celtic players were a little different from Japan’s good players, and I learned a lot from them, as they were fast, physically strong, and had good passing skills. I also realized that soccer is not just about the feet. It was a great experience to be able to participate in the practice match and play with the academy players.
The atmosphere was different from practice, and I thought they showed their feet in places they wouldn’t in Japan, and they played the game well. I would like to make use of this experience and work even harder in Japan, including studying English.
Akahoshi Sora (Musashino FC)
In Japan, the tactics used change depending on the team’s tactics, but at Celtic FC, we learned that the type of soccer we play changes depending on the opponent, such as “If the opponent plays like this, this will be open.” It has expanded. As you can see from watching the Celtic Academy game, I felt that they were playing against what their opponents were doing.
Unlike Japanese soccer, when I watch and play Scottish soccer, all teams are strong and fast in every way, so I felt that I had to be even faster at the stages of watching, making decisions, and executing. I realized that I need to be more conscious in my daily practice so that I can take what I have learned from watching and playing Scottish football and apply it to my team and future football. I felt that I had to play with a sense of speed, without losing easily, and without lowering the quality of my play. Eating and practicing at Celtic Park were all deeply memorable moments.
Through this activity, we hope to create athletes who are successful not only in Japan but also overseas.