Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Tokyo: Japan women’s national team head coach Norio Sasaki has paid tribute to the rigorous work carried out back home in the last thirty years for the development of women’s football in the East Asian country.
The reigning World Champions are currently preparing for next month’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014 to be played in Vietnamese city Ho Chi Minh.
Apart from the World Cup, the Nadeshiko were also the silver medal winners of the London 2012 Olympics but surprisingly, they are yet to win the coveted Asian title and Sasaki has his eyes set firmly on lifting the trophy this time around.
“Nadeshiko Japan have never won the Asian Cup title and I hope we could achieve this goal by playing in our own style of football,” he told www.the-afc.com.
“I'm excited with this new challenge and we will try all our best as a team,” he added.
The World Cup winning coach also hailed the country’s adaptation of women’s football saying that success did not come to the Japanese overnight.
“The women's national team won the FIFA World Cup in 2011, when it was the 30th year since they formed the national team, and women's football got visibility and attention rapidly at the national level,” he said.
“Now, there is an atmosphere that football is not only for boys but also for girls, and that atmosphere is growing rapidly. Japan FA is working to promote women's football more and I think it is very important for the national team to keep gaining attention.
“Asian teams have achieved good results on the world stage and as some of the aspects are similar, there are more chances for more teams in the region. I hope Asian teams can develop and improve by learning from others so that it leads to raising the level of Asian women's football,” he added.
Despite many other sides and football followers taking Japan as the tournament favourites, Sasaki believes all the sides of Group A have their peculiar strengths.
“The first match against defending champions Australia will be very important. Then we have hosts Vietnam who are an organised side and Jordan know us better as the head coach there is a Japanese.
“We have had some good experiences in the Algarve Cup 2014 as well as the La Manga International U-23 Women's Tournament in March. We will have limited time ahead of the Asian Cup, but based on what we could check and examine at these two tournaments, I want to form the best possible squad.
“Our last preparation before the Asian Cup will be the international friendly against New Zealand on May 8.”