NEWS

Technical experts from the Spanish Football Association expressed positive sentiments regarding the future of Japanese football after completing a weeklong inspection tour of Japan.

The three-man inspection team attended coaching seminars from January 24 to 29 after the two associations signed a partnership on January 22 in Tokyo. The deal was inked in an attempt to establish a better coaching program for the development of youth coaches and Japanese football.
“We have a very positive impression after our inspection stay in Japan,” Gines Melendez Sotos, Spanish Football Federation (REFE) National Coach Academy Director, said at a press conference at the JFA headquarters in Tokyo.
“Coaching seminars were well-organized; both the players and coaches have a solid foundation and, based on that, they can develop their game. We feel we can do something to make them better.”
Sotos was accompanied by Eduardo Caturla Vazquez, chief of the REFE Coaching Committee, and Osar Callejo Mardomingo from the REFE National Coaching Academy secretariat.
Asked what is missing from Japanese coaching, Sotos replied: “I don’t it so much that anything is missing, but there are some areas that can be developed.
“Japanese players have characteristics that we cannot see in European players. If they can improve their balance in defense, they will be able to get better results,” he explained.
The Spanish expert said he will make suggestions and proposals in his inspection report to the JFA, and will invite Japanese technical staff to an A-license coaching seminar scheduled to be held in Spain in April.
Sotos added, “There are various factors that have brought Spain its current success in football, and one factor is the training and education of coaches.”
“On top of that, we have improved sporting facilities in the last 25 years and have good ties among youth teams across the country, so that they work together, and that has enabled us to provide our younger generation with many playing opportunities at a high level.”
He was also pleased that the JFA introduced an eight-a-side game for younger players.
“The eight-a-side game has been introduced in various areas in our country, and it is nice to see that the JFA have introduced it, as it can help players understand the game,” the Spaniard said.