The Kashima Junior U-12 team departed for the "2018 Evergrande International Youth Football Summer Camp" tournament, held at the Guangzhou Evergrande Football School facilities in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, from Saturday, July 14th to Sunday, July 22nd.
The U-12 team consists of 18 members from the 5th and 6th grades. At Haneda Airport, player Miyoshi gave a speech expressing their determination.
After arriving in Guangzhou, they traveled to the Evergrande Football School by a Guangzhou Evergrande double-decker bus, a journey of approximately two hours, and arrived at their accommodation, the hotel.
Dinner was served buffet-style, and they ate in the same venue as the Kagoshima United team participating in the U-14 tournament.
After dinner, they walked to the venue for the welcome ceremony.
This vast facility houses over 2,000 students, from 1st grade elementary to 3rd grade junior high and high school, who live together in the same dormitory, studying and training in football. The students are gathered from all over China.
Mr. Zhou Zhengmin (Shu), the vice principal of the school, delivered a welcoming speech, stating, "I hope that the teams from China, Korea, and Japan will improve their level through this tournament." An Antlers uniform was presented to the vice principal.
Director Kotani gave an excellent speech, and pennants were exchanged with the Guangzhou Evergrande team.
After the welcome ceremony concluded, the players, tired from their travel, returned to their accommodation and lights out.
