Over 60 join Japanese pro clinic

The brief clinic of former Japan National Team member and pro striker Atsuhiro Miura was a hit with more than 60 youth players attending the event at the Oleai Sports Complex Field last Monday.

U10 and U12 strikers from Paire Football Club, Shirley’s FC, Matansa FC, MP United FC, Independents FC, and Tan Holdings FC participated in the clinic that lasted for more than an hour. The younger age group joined the first session, followed by the U12 strikers.

In each session, players were divided into three groups. They were ushered to the field and were joined by five visiting players from Japan’s Thomas Soccer School.

With the clinic’s participants sitting at the grass field, Miura wowed the youth strikers with his ball juggling skills. Miura juggled the ball using his left and right foot and then brought the leather to his back and arms. He also showed youth strikers how to use the head in juggling the ball.

At the pitch, the 17-year Japanese pro demonstrated effective ways of kicking the ball. On several occasions, he kicked the ball hard and straight just a few feet away from midcourt and the leather landed perfectly near the penalty box. His accurate kicks drew loud cheers from the crowd.

After the skills demonstration, Miura, with his assistant, Ryota Otomo, allowed youth strikers to play in a five-minute scrimmage with the two visitors serving as referees. Then after the clinic, Miura gathered the players together and gave them inspirational messages.

“Like you, I also started playing soccer when I was about 7. I kept on playing and enjoying the game. I practiced hard and eventually I became a national player of Japan,” Miura said through interpreter and Northern Mariana Islands Football Association coach and technical director Kiyoshi Sekiguchi.

“Some of you are good players so keep it up. I hope I can come here again and stay longer so I can teach you more skills,” Miura added.

NMIFA president Jerry Tan was also present during the clinic and in behalf of the youth players, thanked Miura for the opportunity to learn the sport from a professional.

“It’s very rare that we get to invite a pro player and national team member from Japan, one of the best soccer nations in the world and the best in Asia. Our players, especially the younger ones, got to witness how a great player plays and this inspires them to work harder on their games so that someday they will become national or pro players, too,” Tan said.

Tan added that NMIFA will always find ways to bring experts here so they can share their knowledge of the sport to local players and coaches.

For his part, NMIFA general secretary Ed Salas thanked the Japan Football Association and Sekiguchi for making the clinic happen.

“JFA has always been there to help us, sending coaches and players to hold seminars here,” Salas said. The clinic had a great turnout with the participation of all the clubs. All the kids seemed to enjoy it, especially after seeing some tricks from Mr. Miura.”

“It was cool. He showed us some techniques and we love seeing him kick and juggle the ball,” Tan Holding’s U10 player Edward Cho said.

After the clinic, Miura teamed up with selected players from NMIFA’s men’s league and together they battled the CNMI Men’s National Team in a friendly one-hour match. The CNMI strikers won, 3-1.