From Friday, August 1st to Sunday, August 3rd, we participated in the "Make One Soccer Festival" held in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture.
During the tour, we received a lot of support from local businesses and teams, including Antlers OB Koji Kumagai.
At the festival, we played against local Aomori teams, Montedio Yamagata School, and Grulla Morioka Junior.
We also played against junior high school students, and the games against physically stronger opponents were a great experience for the players.
It is extremely difficult to play multiple matches over several consecutive days during this hot season, but being able to experience multiple matches in the climate of Aomori, the northernmost part of Honshu, without any players falling ill due to the heat, was very valuable even for a summer tour.
【Daily Life】
The players stayed in the dormitory of Sanbongi Agricultural Keitaku High School. For meals during the training camp, as in the previous year, we were provided with nutritionally balanced athlete meals.
After matches, thanks to the generosity of the tournament organizers, we were able to use local bathhouses, which are part of Aomori's culture, every day. This allowed the players to care for their bodies for the next day's matches.
In addition, we received provisions from companies supporting the festival, and we were able to spend fulfilling time off the pitch as well.
On the last day of the training camp, everyone expressed their gratitude to those who had helped them during the tournament.
【Sightseeing】
On the last day, we visited Lake Towada, a famous sightseeing spot in Aomori.
We enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Oirase Stream, and then took a swan boat on Lake Towada. After that, the players each bought souvenirs for their families as they wished.
【Soccer Clinic】
We participated in a soccer clinic led by Hisato Sato, a former teammate of Antlers OB Koji Kumagai.
The players received individual advice, participated in a penalty shootout, and attended an autograph session, making it a very valuable experience for them.
