Rain again – but doesn’t stop us doing from getting about. Bus trip to Yokohama to Nissan Stadium aka Internation Yokahama Stadium (capacity 72,000) – home to Yokohama Marinos and home to World Cup final in 2002. Tour took us through the several areas including dressing room where Brazil went before final in 2002. Jumpers are all layed out in their original locations and players have signed the booths so its pretty cool…
Sat where Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberot Carlos, Juninho, Cafu all sat before going out to beat Germans 2-0. Visited to warm-up room where there is a full-sized goal painted on wall and a penalty spot on floor and the guys got to take some shots.
Also got to follow their footsteps along corridor and onto the pitch.
Great stuff… Later went into the stands and sat where Pele and Maradona sat watching the game (they weren’t sitting next to each other and I don’t think they shared tea and scones during the game).
Then we were dropped of at some shops near Yokohama harbour where we had lunch and opportunity to visit some shops. Was hoping to go up Yokohama Tower but visibility is not good again so decide against it. Looks like we won’t see Mt Fuji while we are here…
Get back on the bus and go to Yokohama Marinos training facility for the game against their development team.
The facilities are brilliant. Overlooked by Nissan Global headquarters, the grounds are a mixture of synthetic and grass. Our 10s are lucky enough to play on the grass pitch. Even with constant rain over a few days the ground condition is close to perfect if not a little slippery.
Once again our teams are shown how a team that trains together regularly and develops their team skills and vision and passing game will be superior to a team of good individual skill that is still getting to know each other.
I am sure that all the kids have learned a tremendous amount of football knowledge whilst here.. It’s a steep and great learning curve that they are on..
I am sure they will grow into better footballers as a result…
Get back on bus and go back to hotel around 8:00p.m. Everyone is hammered and happy.
