FIFA Talent Development Scheme begins in Japan with U14 Boys and U17 Girls Striker & Goalkeeper Camp

This combined U14 boys and U17 girls Striker & Goalkeeper Camp signals the beginning of Japan’s participation in the FIFA TDS project and places a clear focus on one of the most vital aspects of the game—scoring goals.

A special highlight of the camp was the presence of three Legends: former Portuguese striker and FIFA High Performance Specialist Mr. Nuno Gomes, Women’s World Cup champion and former Japanese goalscorer Ms. Mana Iwabuchi, and Mr. Norio Sasaki, who led Japan’s women’s national team to victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011™ and currently holds the role of interim Head Coach. Seeing Mr. Sasaki on the sidelines and interacting with such renowned mentors shed light on the importance of leadership and guidance on the players' path to becoming elite players.

Ms. Iwabuchi shared the knowledge from her own world-class career directly to the players, actively coaching the girls in core striker techniques. She demonstrated high-level skills such as turning, peeling away from central defenders, and finishing quality chances. For these young girls to train under a champion like Ms. Iwabuchi was deeply inspiring. Her direct involvement gave them a powerful example of what they could achieve.

“The camp was a one-of-a-kind event for boys and girls, with a deep focus on scoring goals and preventing goals,” said April Heinrichs, FIFA Legend and High Performance Specialist. “We were able to create game-like conditions and give them many repetitions during the training sessions. It was the first time the girls participated, and we could see their high quality and commitment to excellence in front of the goal.”

The JFA’s decision to organise this camp offers an immediate benefit for players and coaches and reflects Japan’s long-term vision to develop top-level players, aligning closely with FIFA TDS’s goal of fostering technical skills that have a lasting impact on football development. Japan stands as a model FIFA TDS partner, with a track record of advancing to the quarter-finals in every men’s and women’s age-group World Cup since 2014—a testament to its strategic approach. “It was a wonderful experience for us to host the Striker and Goalkeeper Camp in Japan with FIFA’s support,” said the JFA Technical Director, Mr. Kageyama Masanaga. “As Nuno Gomes said, ‘Talent is not enough’—we must keep pushing to develop young talent and strengthen finishing skills in Japanese football.”

Gomes also acknowledged the JFA’s unique approach of combining strikers and goalkeepers in the same training programme, noting, “It was an enriching experience for the JFA coaches who created a high-performance environment, but especially for the players who were fantastic in their approach to training.”

FIFA has played a key role in supporting the camp, providing educational resources and helping to ensure that best practices in player development are shared globally. With the involvement of FIFA’s Goalkeeper Experts, the camp further gains valuable insights into the specific needs of developing outstanding goalkeepers, promoting a holistic approach to both attack and defense. Callum Irving, FIFA TDS Training & Education Lead, emphasised that “it was fantastic to spend time with the Goalkeeper coaches, sharing information and delivering our latest Elite Youth Goalkeeper workshop content.”

“With the vision of the future goalkeeper presented by JFA and their excellence in development, I believe the JFA will be on the right path to create the foundations to have strong youth and senior national team goalkeepers soon. Maybe someday they will develop the best goalkeeper in the world”, added Fernando Brassard, FIFA Goalkeeper Expert.

As Japan advances through the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, the Striker & Goalkeeper Camp serves as an important milestone in their long-term plan to dominate in world football—particularly in the crucial skill of putting the ball in the back of the net.

For more details on the event, follow the JFA on their social media:

FIFA×JFA ストライカー＆GKキャンプ開催⚽

10/18(金)～20(日)の3日間、Jヴィレッジ(福島県双葉郡)にて、FIFA×JFA ストライカー＆GKキャンプを開催しました。

本プログラムは、FIFAが加盟協会(MA)に対し展開する支援プログラムであるTalent Development… pic.twitter.com/WSsTDLzSao
— 日本サッカー協会 (@JFA) October 22, 2024