1/12 Training
On the first day of the Okinawa Itoman camp, a welcome ceremony and the first practice were held at Nishizaki Athletic Stadium. At the welcome ceremony, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI took the microphone and greeted, "We want to do our best to have a good camp and welcome a good season. Although it will be a short period, we sincerely ask for your support during this time."
Already, from January 5th, training was conducted for about a week at Kodaira Ground, and on the first day of the camp, sweat was shed to loosen up the body stiffened from travel. About an hour of training was carried out with rondo and pass & control exercises to check ball feeling. The coach, now in his second season, said, "I want to strengthen our identity further," and set the theme of this camp as 'Discipline.'
CAMP VOICE vol.1 Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q, we have finished the first day of camp.
A, the 2025 season started immediately with camp, but for the 2026 season, we were able to prepare by training at Kodaira Ground. Although the camp period will be shorter, we aim to improve our challenges and build our strengths by skillfully combining practice matches and training.
Q, Please tell us the theme of this training camp.
A, I think it will be a good "training". We considered the six days at Kodaira Ground as a preparation period and did not start at full throttle from the beginning. We have been gradually improving our condition up to this point, so during the training sessions here, we want to make the intensity high and tough, making it a time truly worthy of the word "training."
Q: Since there are many new players as well as well-known players, it might not take much time to assess the players.
A, during last season's camp, there were parts that seemed understood but were not fully grasped. Sometimes we asked the coach to decide the composition of the training members. In that sense, I think I understand the characteristics of everyone to some extent.
Q. In that context, how do you want to make use of the practice matches?
A, I believe that not only myself but also the surrounding players need to understand each other's characteristics. I hope this will be a time where we can understand each other. However, since there are quite a few people, I think the members will become somewhat fixed to a certain extent. Even so, I want to take on flexible challenges. It's not decided from the start, so how the selection is made at the beginning will affect things later on.
Q. The newly joined player Kento HASHIMOTO has been actively communicating with various players since the practice at Kodaira Ground. It seems he will be helpful to the team in aligning tactics and implementing them.
A, I hope that will be the case. If he can show his strengths, I believe it will lead to that kind of outcome. I think he himself may have some anxieties after transferring. We are not trying to put a burden on him. First, it is important for him to show his strengths and for everyone to understand each other.
Q. In your second season as manager, I think it is significant that the players understand Coach Matsuhashi's training and methods.
A, however, I think we need to emphasize the colors a bit more. To maintain possession and play more attacking football, the ball must be in our control. Last season, we lacked the courage to do that consistently. We want to challenge that and focus more on build-up play, including the goalkeeper. Of course, this should be chosen only when it is possible, and forcing it in situations where it’s not feasible and conceding goals is a different matter. I believe it’s about how to play in the opponent’s territory after pressing them back. That requires involvement from the back. In addition to runs from the back, I want to improve ball circulation using the frontline players’ holding and combinations.
Q, How about the captain for the new season?
A, we have discussed to some extent what to do. I believe it will be decided during this period.
FOCUS ON - Today's Highlight -
The official photographer on the first day of camp chose this shot for 'FOCUS ON.' It shows the huddle centered around Rikizo MATSUHASHI, now in his second season as head coach. This scene has become a daily routine since last season, but this season will be about how much more the 'Rikizo color' can be strengthened. The commander’s spirit is conveyed even from this single shot.
Camp Incident Report!?
After the first day of practice ended, the players returned to the dormitory from the training ground one by one. Among them, Motoki NAGAKURA, who was about to leave, suddenly felt something strange with the backpack he was carrying. Then, he discovered a ringing mobile phone inside the luggage that he did not recognize.
The owner of this was later discovered... Yuto NAGATOMO mistakenly put his phone not in his own bag but in Nagakura's bag. Whether this was a thoughtful gesture by the team's eldest member to ease the nerves of his teammates on the first day of camp is unclear, but this instantly filled the camp with a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
