INTERVIEW
Akito Suzuki, Academy Manager
Manabu Sasame, School Manager
The Antlers Academy will head into the 2024 season with a new coaching structure. Supporting the academy as a whole is Academy Manager Akito Suzuki, while School Manager Manabu Sasame is primarily responsible for the activities of the Antlers School. We spoke with them about the features of the new coaching structure for the upcoming season and their management goals.
[Youth] A “豪華なスタッフ陣” We Can Be Proud Of
The Antlers Academy coaching staff for 2024 is once again full of highly accomplished individuals.
Among them, the Antlers Youth coaching staff remains as impressive as ever. In addition to Atsushi Yanagisawa, who played for the top team and helped build the club’s history, Technical Advisor Mitsuo Okusawara, and GK Goalkeeper Coach Junko Sokeguchi, the team will be developed by highly experienced Physical Advisor and Academy Head of Coaching Takeshi Sachiuchi, Coach and Chief GK Coach Ichikawa, Coach Hideo Okamoto, and Physical Coach Masashi Oiwa.
“Last year, we won the Kogenomiya Prince League East and secured promotion by winning through the Premier League playoffs. What we can say with confidence is that our youth staff is truly exceptional. People who thoroughly understand football and know the history of Antlers have pushed the youth players harder than ever, building a team that can compete tough and win by running. We will compete in the Premier League this year, but everyone is excited about the next challenge on an even higher stage.” (Akito Suzuki, Academy Manager)
In 2023, the academy focused on “developing” its players throughout the year, which led to winning two matches in the Premier League playoffs. Competing with a new team that includes two players registered with the top team, Makoto Tokuda and Haruto Matsumoto, the Kogenomiya Prince League East is the highest stage for high school-age players since 2019. With the new season approaching, the process of building a new team has begun once again.
The Youth Team Is Led by Manager Yanagisawa and a Coaching Staff That Knows Antlers’ History
[Junior Youth] A Structure That Makes It Easier for Each Manager to Coach and Develop the Team
In the junior youth age group, Kashima Junior Youth achieved the remarkable feat of winning the 36th All Japan U-15 Football Championship in the Kogenomiya Cup in 2023. The work done to allow each player to demonstrate their “individual ability” bore fruit in this achievement.
For the new season, Coach Masataka Shinohara, Coach Minorobu Kotani, and GK Coach Akio Sato’s coaching staff has been joined by Coach Makoto Sugimoto. Academy Manager Suzuki praised him, saying, “Coach Sugimoto, who has experience as a player in the J-League, is an exceptionally skilled coach, particularly in technical instruction. We have gained a powerful new addition.”
There have also been changes to the coaching staffs of Norte Junior Youth and Tsukuba Junior Youth.
Coach Junki Kato, who served as a Kashima Junior coach until 2023, has joined Norte Junior Youth, which is led by Manager Daishi Tsukada, Coach Kota Hina, and GK Coach Atsuya Hosone.
“Since Coach Kato is from the same prefecture as Manager Tsukada, they get along very well in a good way, and we expect this to lead to excellent coordination. Coach Kato is also energetic and can give vocal instruction to the players, so we believe he will bring a positive new atmosphere to Norte.” (Academy Manager Suzuki)
In addition, Coach Hinata Kamito has joined Tsukuba Junior Youth, which is led by Manager Mitsunori Yamao, who also serves as the Tsukuba Area Center Director.
“Coach Kamito worked with Manager Yamao during his time at Gifu, and although he is still young, he is energetic and has the advantage of being able to approach various things with a positive attitude. Manager Yamao also recommended him.” (Academy Manager Suzuki)
He will strengthen the team alongside Coach Yuichi Nemoto, an alumnus of the top team, and GK Coach Motohiro Ohashi, while supporting Manager Yamao.
As Academy Manager Suzuki says, “Our job on the management side is to create a structure that makes it easier for the managers to coach and develop the team,” Norte Junior Youth and Tsukuba Junior Youth have each appointed a long-time acquaintance of Manager Tsukada and Manager Yamao, respectively, as their “right-hand man.”
Coach Kamito, Who Joined Tsukuba Junior Youth, Will Support Long-Time Acquaintance Manager Yamao
[Junior] With an Eye Toward Growth as Coaches
Meanwhile, Coach Osamu Morishima, who has coached junior high school-age players at Kashima Junior Youth for many years, will become a Kashima Junior coach in 2024.
“Coach Morishima is a highly experienced coach and is also an exceptionally skilled player. Therefore, we want him to play football with the children and believe that this age group is where he can best pass on the coaching experience he has cultivated over many years.” (Academy Manager Suzuki)
He is also expected to bring “a great new element” to the teams previously coached by Manager Tomoki Aono and Katsuya Narumi.
Norte Junior will continue its 2024 coaching staff of Manager Kenji Okusawara, who also serves as the Norte Area Center Director, Coach Hikaru Sakamoto, and Coach Subaru Sunako. However, at Tsukuba Junior, Masahiro Nasukawa, who served as a Tsukuba Junior Youth coach until last year, has been appointed manager. He was selected to succeed the previous manager, Hiroki Nakano, who became the Academy Director.
Although this is Manager Nasukawa’s first year as a “manager,” Academy Manager Suzuki encouraged him, saying, “He has extensive experience as a player, so we want him to take on the responsible position of “manager” here and continue to grow as a coach. Tsukuba Junior also has two excellent coaches, Coach Riku Iwata and Coach Tomoyuki Suzuki, so we want him to develop the children of Tsukuba Junior together with them.”
Manager Nasukawa Will Lead the Tsukuba Junior Team
【Academy Director】Mr. Nakano Succeeds Mr. Yamazaki After Many Years
Former Manager Hiroki Nakano, who served as the Tsukuba Junior manager until last year, became the Academy Director in 2024.
“Yuji Yamazaki, who served as the Antlers Academy Director for many years, retired at the end of the 2023 season. The position of Academy Director is a very important one, as it requires someone who can oversee the coaching staff and has considerable experience. When we asked Mr. Nakano, he was eager to take on the role, and he has agreed to succeed former Academy Director Yamazaki.” (Academy Manager Suzuki)
Academy Director Nakano, whom Academy Manager Suzuki also describes as a “specialist in junior-age coaching,” will primarily be responsible for the overall management of the junior age groups. He is already planning for the junior teams to participate in training camps this spring break, and with new fifth graders heading on an overseas trip to South Korea in March, he is also looking ahead to overseas trips for the junior teams, following the youth and junior youth teams.
Mr. Nakano, Who Served as the Tsukuba Junior Manager Until Last Year, Has Become the Academy Director
【School】Making the Most of Past Experience
The coaching staff for the school, which forms the foundation of the Antlers Academy, has been joined by Coach Ryo Nishihata and Coach Maya Komuro, who served as chief coaches in the Kashima area until 2023, and Coach Haki Takahashi, who has coaching experience in cities such as Tochigi. School Manager Manabu Sasame expressed his expectations for the three new coaches, saying, “We hope they will make the most of their past experience and excel alongside the many staff members who have been coaching in the Kashima area for many years.”
Meanwhile, Coach Shigeru Shimada and Coach Yoshinori Takayasu, who were active in the Kashima area until 2023, have moved to the Norte area, while Coach Shinichiro Otake has moved to the Tsukuba area. Regarding Coach Shimada in particular, School Manager Suzuki explained his intentions, saying, “Based on his experience observing the Kashima area’s development and special courses, we hope he will also help develop players who move up from the school to the junior teams in the Norte area.”
Furthermore, School Manager Sasame outlined his vision for the school’s 2024 activities.
“While the other staff structure will not change much, we want the coaches in the Tsukuba area, centered around top team alumnus Coach Tetsu Sugiyama, to pass on their individual experiences to the school students. In the Kashima area, we are also looking to Coach Maya Komuro and Coach Rio Kimishima to provide coaching for girls. We plan to provide more opportunities for training camps and matches for players in the special and development courses than last year, and we want them to gain as much experience as possible in Japan.”
With Academy Manager Suzuki, School Manager Sasame, and Academy Director Nakano at the center, the Antlers Academy has begun the 2024 season with the goal of developing players who will become the top team’s core.
Coach Takahashi, a Former Goalkeeper, Has Joined the Antlers School