On Tuesday, the 16th, we departed from Hitachi by bus at 4 AM, flew from Haneda Airport, and then traveled by bus for another hour from the airport to Miyawaka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, where the event was held. The journey took nearly 7 hours, but the children were full of energy.
After lunch, we were about to start the match, but a sudden thunderstorm caused a temporary suspension. After that, the match time was shortened, and the games were played.
First Day Results
Kashima Antlers U-12
Preliminary League
1. FC Wakamya 1-0
2. FC Kurosaki 0-0
3. Kego Junior Soccer Club 0-0
4. Area Ito FA 0-1
5. FC Alara Kagoshima 2-0
☆Qualified for the mid-level league by finishing 3rd in the preliminary league.
Kashima Antlers U-10
Preliminary League
1. Bristol Football Club 3-0
2. Tegevajaro Miyazaki 2-0
3. FC LIBERTA A 0-4
4. FC Sieg Fukuoka 4-0
5. FC Luza 7-1
☆Qualified for the top-level league by finishing 2nd in the preliminary league.
At the lodging, older and younger students stayed in six-person rooms, with three students per combination.
The younger students, who had less experience with camp-style activities, made many mistakes, but the older students encouraged them and led them well.
On the second day, group league matches were held according to the results of the first day. The weather improved, and the temperature rose from the morning. We played in heat not typically experienced in Ibaraki. We approached the second day after reviewing the issues that arose on the first day in each team.
Kashima Antlers U-12
Mid-level League
1. FC LIBERTA A 1-2
2. Torikai SC 1-0
3. Kego Junior Soccer Club 3-0
4. FC Ryunan 3-2
5. A.C Primera 6-0
☆2nd in the mid-level league. 8th overall out of 18 teams.
Kashima Antlers U-10
Top-level League
1. FC Alara Kagoshima 0-3
2. FC Ryunan 2-0
3. ZYG FC 0-1
4. FC LIBERTA A 1-1
5. Area Ito FA 1-1
☆4th in the top-level league. 4th overall out of 18 teams.
Neither category achieved satisfactory results, but I believe they gained various experiences during this tournament. On the third day, we had friendly matches with teams from Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. We played for about two hours, reflecting on what we learned from the tournament and confirming our commitment to challenging ourselves without fear of making mistakes.
After lunch, we departed for Ibaraki. The flight was delayed by 30 minutes, and there was a major traffic jam on the highway, but we arrived safely in Hitachi and completed the expedition.
During this Fukuoka expedition, the children learned a lot, not only on the pitch but also off the pitch. Even in this short period, we certainly saw growth in the children. I believe that by holding meetings among themselves and encouraging each other, they experienced the importance of cooperation and the difficulty of acting as a group.
We are also very grateful to Asobi-Go Sports Club and many other related parties for their great help. The children also acted with gratitude during their stay, and I believe they grew significantly not only in their soccer skills but also in their personal development. What they learned on this expedition will undoubtedly be useful in their future activities.
To the parents who participated in this event, thank you for your support and cooperation with our club. Next time, we hope to provide an even better experience for everyone.
We also plan to organize more expeditions like this, so please consider participating when they are announced.
