Courtesy: The AFC.com


AFC Member Association of the Year: Japan

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Kuala Lumpur: The Japan Football Association (JFA) added the AFC Member Association of the Year award to their already-packed trophy cabinet following a phenomenally successful year that saw the East Asians set an AFC Asian Cup record and conquer all before them in women's football.

The year couldn't have begun any better for Japan as the Samurai Blue defeated Australia to win the AFC Asian Cup for a record-breaking fourth time before the nation that was still reeling from the devastating effects of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami were uplifted by the Japanese women's team's triumph at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany after a succession of superb performances culminated in Norio Sasaki's side defeating the USA in the final.

Inspired by the Nadeshiko, Japan went on to win the AFC U-19 and U-16 Women's Championships to complete a glorious hat-trick for Japanese women's football, while Nagoya Oceans played their part in stellar year for the JFA by becoming the first side from Japan to win the AFC Futsal Club Championship.

Collecting the award on behalf of his association from AFC Vice President and Chairman of AFC Vision Asia Committee HRH Tengku Abdullah, JFA President Juni Ogura said:

"The Japan Football Association is once again honoured to become AFC Member Association of the Year. I would like to thank the staff and officials and all football stakeholders of the JFA who showed their commitment to work and professionalism."




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com