Mendes leads 1st Japanese training session

Last weekend marked the first practice for the Nippon with their new and highly decorated coach Marcelo Mendes

The new Mendes-steered Japan started their engines last week, with a series of training sessions that became the best way to establish a first contact. Between April 18th and April 21st, the Nippon side came together in Okinawa for an exhaustive training program. The experience, according to both Mendes and the players, was highly positive, and the team now feels even more confident to tackle the upcoming challenges.

Change can be difficult but that does not seem to be the case for Japan and their National beach soccer team with their new manager. The Asian beach soccer giants recently changed coaches in hopes of taking back the title of Asia´s best and advance even further in the next FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. It seems as though they have chosen the right man for the job.

The coaching staff has found the transition easy due to the high level of play from the Nippon and the beach soccer culture that has already been established. Mendes went as far to say that this team, as is, has the chance to be champions of Asia and make some noise in the World Cup. The new coach said in a speech to the team before practice, “As the former head coach of the UAE national team for seven years, playing against Japan, I think I know very well how good your skills and your stamina are…let´s do the work together to get on top!”

In just a matter of minutes after the beginning of the camp, the energy began to accelerate. Marcelo wasted no time in starting to instill his strategies and proven successful tactics. The Japanese leader and star on the pitch, Ozu, believes the new coach does things differently but understands that change is needed and said after practice, “We already started learning new strategies and formations, and we have been using our brains a lot…” Now that there has been one auspicious practice the National team and Mendes can look forward to many more and a successful beach soccer season.

Read more about the coach and players feelings at http://www.jfa.jp/eng/news/00000620/

Pic by Japan Football Association/JLeague