“Let’s look at the bright side of playing against all these big teams. There are so much to gain especially for the younger players. I told them how fortunate they are to be able to play against the best in Asia at their age. The experience that they gained from playing in such matches will definitely improve their game! So I told the younger boys, let’s all go out do our best and enjoy the moments”
The Japanese have romanticised the concept of Kaizen – the pursuit of continuous improvement. Traditionally the word would be associated craftsmen or in business, most famously adopted by Toyota. Kazu is the very embodiment of this philosophy.
When asked by reporters about his future, he bursts out in laughter. “I might (retire) someday.”
He composes himself and with a straight face “If possible, I want to die as a player. That is my true feeling. So when I die, I want to be known as Kazuyoshi Miura, soccer player. Not a former player.”
Junpiter Futbol were fortunate to be able to cover Diego Maradona’s Al Fujairah in the Arabian Gulf League back in 2018. These are our final shots of the greatest footballer of all times. This is our little tribute to Diego Maradona.
The annual SingaCup, Singapore International Youth Cup is celebrating its 10-year of youth football excellence this November despite the strong challenge and ‘defence’ put up by Covid-19.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the SingaCup is reinventing itself to present a hybrid 5 days event programme consisting of competitive esports tournaments, interviews and panel discussions with professional footballers and industry.
In addition, eSingaCup 2020 seeks to reaffirm its strong standing in the international grassroots football community and attract new fans and a greater audience, all the while showcasing Singapore and the event online.
“I have the priviledge to represent Yangon United as a professional footballer from 2009 to 2020. I am really very happy. Yangon United is not just a club, it is like a home to me. I really want to thank my team mates, the coaches, the officials, the president and owner of the club. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone, “ said Captain Ice on his social media.
Football has snailed back up from the sleepy lockdown months and we’re peaking with fantastic spectacles like the absolute stormer of a football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 a few nights ago. But at the end of a storm, there’s normally a golden sky; the future is certainly golden for top tier wunderkinds like 19-year-old Takefusa Kubo from Real Madrid and Lee Kang-In of Valencia CF.
One of the most talkabout matches between Japan & South Korea in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifying Final Round. Check out the match & wonderful goals highlights from 1997.
It is a very natural thing now to see more Asian players playing in European leagues now. We have got the best from Japan (Takefusa Kubo) and South Korea (Lee Kang In) in La Liga now. But if you ask me, I think the best of Asian football is yet to come.
Honestly, I dare say Asian football is quite impressive after having played for Atletico Kolkata and Central Coast Mariners in India and Australia respectively. Even before that, I travelled to Asia a lot while playing for Barcelona as well. And of course now, with my current role as La Liga Ambassador, I continue to travel to Asia frequently too.
Junpiter Futbol (JPF) has the privilege to sit down and have a great chat with the former Head of Grassroots Football in All India Football Federation (AIFF). A lot has been touched on the grassroots football development in India, her involvement with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and not forgetting, the prestigious FIFA World U-17 Men’s Football Championship hosted by India in 2017.
Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) leveraged on the opportunity to showcase Taiwanese football by introducing English commentary in their weekly weekend live streamed match. And now with the increase in viewership, CTFA has doubled their effort with more matches coverage in English language too.
