Training on January 12
On the first day of the Okinawa Itoman Camp, a welcome ceremony and the first practice were held at Nishizaki Athletic Stadium. At the welcome ceremony, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI took the microphone and greeted everyone, saying, “We want to do our best to have a good camp and welcome a great season. Although the period is short, we sincerely ask for your support during this time.”
Having already trained for about a week at the Kodaira Ground since January 5th, the first day of the camp was spent sweating to loosen up bodies stiffened from travel. They conducted about an hour of training with rondos and pass & control drills to confirm their ball feeling. Now in his second season as head coach, he said, “I want to deepen our identity,” and set the theme of this camp as ‘Discipline.’
CAMP VOICE vol.1 Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q. You have finished the first day of camp.
A. The 2025 season started with camp right away, but for the 2026 season, we were able to prepare by moving our bodies at the Kodaira Ground. The camp period will be shorter, but I want to improve on our challenges and build our strengths by skillfully combining practice matches and training.
Q, please tell us the theme of this training camp.
A, I think it will be about “discipline.” We consider the six days at Kodaira Ground as a preparation period, so we did not start at full throttle from the beginning. We have been gradually improving our condition up to this point, so during the training sessions here, we want to make it a time of high intensity and toughness, where the word “discipline” is truly fitting.
Q, Since there are many new players as well as players we know well, it might not take much time to assess the players.
A, During last season’s camp, there were aspects that seemed understood but were not fully grasped. Sometimes I asked the coaches to decide the composition of the training members. In that sense, I believe I have a fairly good understanding of each player’s characteristics.
Q. In that context, how do you want to make use of the practice matches?
A. I believe not only myself but also the surrounding players need to understand each other’s strengths. I hope it becomes a time where we can mutually understand that. However, since there are quite a few players, I think the lineup will somewhat solidify. Even so, I want to take on flexible challenges. We haven’t decided everything from the start, so how we select the team at the beginning will affect things later on.
Q. The newly joined player Kento HASHIMOTO has been actively communicating with various players during practice at the Kodaira Ground. It seems like he will be helpful for aligning tactics and embedding them within the team.
A. I hope so. If he can show his strengths, I believe it will lead to that. He himself must have some anxieties after transferring. We are not going to burden him with heavy expectations. First, it is important that he shows his own strengths and that everyone understands each other.
Q: I think it is significant that in his second season in charge, the players also understand Coach Matsuhashi’s training and methods.
A: However, I believe we need to emphasize our style a bit more. To play a more possession-based and attacking style of soccer, the ball must be in our control. Last season, we lacked the courage to fully commit to that approach. We want to challenge that this season and focus more on build-up play, including the goalkeeper. Of course, this should be chosen when it is feasible, and forcing it in situations where it’s not possible and conceding goals is a different matter. It’s about how we play in the opponent’s territory after pressing them back. That requires involvement from the back. In addition to runs from the back, I want to further improve ball circulation using the frontline players’ ball retention and combinations.
Q, what about the captain for the new season?
A, we have discussed it to some extent. I believe it will be decided during this period.
FOCUS ON – Today’s Shot –
The official photographer captured the ‘FOCUS ON’ moment on the first day of camp, choosing this single shot. A huddle centered around Rikizo MATSUHASHI, now in his second season as head coach. This scene has become a daily routine since last season, but this season it will be about how much more the ‘Rikizo color’ can be emphasized. The commander’s spirit is conveyed even through this one photo.
Camp Incident Report!?
After the first day’s practice ended, the players each returned from the training ground to the dormitory. Among them, Motoki NAGAKURA, who was about to leave, suddenly felt something strange about the backpack he was carrying. Then, he discovered a ringing cellphone inside the bag that he did not recognize.
The owner of the phone was later discovered… Yuto NAGATOMO had mistakenly placed his phone not in his own bag but in Nagakura’s bag. Whether it was a thoughtful gesture by the team’s eldest member to ease the tension of his nervous teammates on the first day of camp is unknown, but this instantly wrapped the camp site in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
AloJapan.com