Dhaka, December 14: Bangladesh will have to bring their best when they face the visiting Japan Under-21 football team in an international friendly at Bangabandhu National Stadium on December 18 as the junior Samurais are considered the future of Japanese football.

Although all the countries sent their U-23 team to the last Asian Games football competition in Incheon, South Korea, Japan played their U-21 side. Japan U-21 reached the quarterfinals in the Asiad before bowing out to eventual champions South Korea. In the group stage, Japan outplayed Kuwait 4-1, lost 3-1 to Iraq and outclassed Palestine 4-0. 

The Japanese team possess a number of exciting players like forward Yuya Kubo, who plays for Switzerland’s top flight club BSC Young Boys. Kubo has also represented the Japanese U-16, U-17 and U-18 teams. 

Musahi Suzuki, the 6’ 2” forward born in Jamaica, has also been dubbed as an exciting talent. Ayumi Niekawa, the 6’ 3” goalkeeper, has already established himself as the first-choice custodian of the team and is looking forward to wearing the national jersey in the near future. Most of the footballers ply their trade with the big J-League clubs. 

Japan U-21 coach Makoto Teguramori was quoted as saying in the official Japanese Football Federation website, “I made the selection of the squad based on the players from the Asian Games. I wanted to show that this selection’s aim is to encourage competition among players and make a thicker axis. I want the chosen members to show potentiality for achieving excellent results in the 2016 Rio Olympics.”

The Japanese U-21 football squad:
Goalkeepers-Ayumi Niekawa, (Jubilo Iwata), Kushbiki Mashatoshi (Shimiju S Pulse), Kenshin Yoshimaru (Yissel Kobe)

Defenders- Ken Matsubura (Albirex Nilgata), Takuawa Iwanami (Vissel Kobe), Naomichi Ueda (Kashima Antlers), Ryosuke Yamanaka (Jef United), Sei Muroya (Meiji Unive), Masahi Kamekawa (Shohan Bellmare), Genta Miura (Shimizu S Pulse), Tatsuki Nara (Consadole Sappora)

Midfielder-Wataru Endo, (Shonan Bellmare), Shiya Yajima (Urawa Reds), Riki Harakawi Minamimo (Cereza Osaka), Takuam Arano (Consadole Sapporo), Takuam Asano (Sanfrece Hiroshima) a(Ehime FC), Ryota Oshima (Kawasaki Frontale), Yosuke Ideguchi (Gamba Osaka).

Forwards-Musahi Suzuki (Albrex Nilgata), Shoya Nakajima (F.C. Tokyo), Yuya Kubo (BSC Young Boys, Switzerland)01918784823