J. League team Shonan Bellmare holds football clinics in the Philippines
The Japan Foundation Asia Center and the Japan Professional Football League (J. League) recently held football clinics for kids in the Philippines, bringing over three coaches from J. League club Shonan Bellmare from February 3 to 5, 2017 in an effort to strengthen ties through football.
Shonan Bellmare, the J. League club assigned to the Philippines, formed a partnership with local club Japan Philippines Voltes Football Club (JP Voltes FC). This is their second time to hold the clinic in the country, where they taught junior players from JP Voltes FC basic skills in football at the Gatorade Chelsea FC Blue Pitch in Circuit Makati.
INSPIRATION. Coach Takahashi Naoya, one of the three Shonan Bellmare representatives, gives a quick talk before one of the many activities scheduled for that day.
ACCURACY AND CONTROL. One of the many drills done during day one of the clinics was a shooting drill which emphasizes accuracy and control. Here, a kid from JP Voltes FC kicks the ball towards a cone.
February 3 was a special day for the 3-day football clinic as they also brought select children from Smokey Mountain, one of the country’s slum areas, to join in the clinic. Shonan Bellmare also gave away 100 used footballs gathered from their fans to give to the children so they may continue playing football.
The initiative, done in coordination with the Japan Football Association, has been around since November 2014. J. League teams hold football clinics in Southeast Asian countries to strengthen ties between Japan and the region, as well as develop the culture of football in Asia.
Apart from football clinics, the partnership between the Japan Foundation Asia Center, J. League, and the Japan Football Association also provides opportunities for people-to-people exchange to give players and coaches from Southeast Asia an opportunity to see their Japanese counterparts in action.
Four players and staff members from the Philippines will be invited to Japan later this year to learn more about Japan’s football culture, hopefully aiding the development and growth of football in the country.
