Northern NSW Football is excited to announce that they will send three representative teams to Japan to compete at the prestigious Copa Toreros Prima Vera Tournament later this month.
Delivered in collaboration with Nihon University and Estillo Travel, the tournament provides meaningful global opportunities for talented players and coaches from across northern NSW.
The under-12s tournament will be played Saturday 28 to Monday 30 March at Tokino Sumika Usagijima Ground in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, near the base of Mount Fuji. The event will feature 30 teams competing in an eight-a-side format, with group stages followed by finals.
NNSWF will be represented by a regional under-12s boys team and a metropolitan under-12s boys team. The regional squad marks a milestone for NNSWF as it becomes the first dedicated regional side to participate in an international tournament.
They will also be joined by a state under-13s girls team, which will compete in the under-12s boys division as part of a high-performance development challenge against elite international opposition.
The tournament includes several leading Japanese youth academies including Yokohama F. Marinos, Yokohama FC, Urawa Red Diamonds, Kashima Antlers, Kashiwa Reysol and RB Omiya Ardija.
International teams scheduled to participate include SE Palmeiras from Brazil, the under-12s Nepal National Select, Hsinchu Cosmos United of Taiwan and Total Communication Football of China, alongside the Australian representatives.
NNSWF will also be represented in the under-15s girls tournament which will be held from Wednesday 1 to Friday 3 April across venues in Saitama and Tokyo, including Redsland and Kiyose Uchiyama Sports Park.
The competition features 18 teams playing 11-a-side, beginning with a group stage before a ranking tournament determines final placings.
Through NNSWF’s partnership with Nihon University and Estillo Travel, Premier Youth League Girls clubs were invited to apply for the opportunity to compete.
Following a structured selection process, Adamstown Rosebud JFC was awarded the tournament participation licence and will represent NNSWF.
The under-15s girls competition includes a strong lineup of top Japanese clubs such as NoJima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara, Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina, INAC Kobe Leonessa, Chifure AS Elfen Saitama, JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies, Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Menina and Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies. International teams include Kickstart FC from India, along with NNSWF.
The tournaments offer a rare opportunity to compete in a world-class development environment while experiencing international football and culture against some of the strongest youth programs in the region.
NNSWF Regional Talent Development Officer Larry Budgen said he was excited to see players from all across northern NSW shine on the international stage.
“We’re thrilled to see our players preparing to compete on an international stage. This tournament will push them to adapt, improve and test themselves against some of the best young talent in the world,” Budgen said.
“Beyond football, experiencing a new culture and meeting players from other countries will give them confidence and perspective that will stay with them long after the trip.”
NNSWF CEO Peter Haynes said the opportunity demonstrated the immediate impact of NNSWF’s international partnerships, offering young players unmatched football and cultural development.
“These opportunities are incredibly important for our talented players, not only from a football perspective but from a cultural and world experience perspective,” Haynes said.
“To compete internationally against clubs of this calibre accelerates development in ways that domestic competition simply cannot replicate.
“Our players and coaches will experience a different football culture, build global connections and return home with broader perspective and confidence.
“To have three representative teams and a Premier Youth League Girls club competing at the foot of Mt Fuji in a tournament of this standing is something we are extremely proud of. It reflects the ambition of Northern NSW Football and our commitment to creating world class opportunities for young people across our region.”