NorCal PDP to Host Two Exhibition Games Against JFA Sakai

NorCal Premier Soccer’s Player Development Program (PDP) is set to welcome a U15 girls’ team from the Japanese Football Association: JFA Academy Sakai for a pair of exhibition games this weekend.

The U15 girls PDP North Selection plays first on Saturday, February 1st at 11am (at Davis Legacy Soccer Complex), while the PDP South Selection take on the JFA on Sunday, February 2nd with a 10am (at Tiffany Roberts Soccer Field in San Ramon).

The event typically features three 30-minute periods which is open to the public followed by a celebratory gathering between the two teams in something of a cultural exchange.

“JFA Academy Sakai always asks to play NorCal PDP because they want to go up against players whom they never get to see in their home country,” said NorCal PDP State Coach and NorCal Technical Programs Coordinator Jovan Yamagishi. “If you think about it, that is a huge draw for us as well, but for different reasons. They, as players, want to experience speed and power which they don’t get to feel in Japan. PDP players get to see their technical and tactical knowledge in full display. It’s a win-win scenario for both programs.”

The idea for the partnership began more than 10 years ago when Yamagishi and another NorCal employee visited Japan and met with a coaching staff at the JFA Sakai facility, which is one of five national training centers in the country.

Since then, the JFA has sent a team almost every year and in 2014, NorCal’s PDP girls went on a trip to Japan to play against some of the top youth sides in the country.

For players, coaches, and parents alike, these events have provided a fun atmosphere and a chance to learn about fellow lovers of the beautiful game.

PDP assistant director Justin Selander added, “We want to get as many people to come out to watch the game, but also to observe the purpose of it because soccer is such a global game. We as a country can do a better job of celebrating the global game rather than just making it our game.”

“There are moments where we need to think of our opponents as rivals but there are other moments where we need to think of them as peers, we need to think of one another” he added. “I would love to invite any coaches, directors, players, and parents from other clubs to come out and watch this celebration of soccer.”

Rosters for both games are listed below:

NorCal Premier U15 Girls State North Roster