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Pan-Pacific Cup: Japan's Oita Trinita Ready For LA Galaxy Test
Japanese side Oita Trinita are full of confidence as they prepare to face LA Galaxy on the opening day of the 2009 Pan-Pacific Championship.
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Feb 17, 2009 3:09:59 AM
In Monday's press conference held at
the Home Depot Center to officially launch the four-team Pan-Pacific Championship,
Oita coach Pericles Chamusca was eager to give his club another trophy to start the 2009 season.
Last season was the first time that the Kyushu club challenged for the J.League title since winning promotion in 2002.
Despite missing out on the title, Oita lifted their first trophy in club history last year after defeating Shimizu S-Pulse in the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup final.
Winning the Nabisco Cup also gave Oita the chance to play in the pre-season competition with Suwon Samsung Bluewings from South Korea and China’s Shandong Luneng - two Asian clubs with strong winning traditions.
"I'm very happy that we got the chance to play in the Pan-Pacific Championship. I'm looking forward to the match against the Galaxy," said Chamusca.
"But what's really important for us more than anything is that we play with style. Regardless of who we play, we will play our brand of football and also win games in the process."
Another man that will lead Oita this season is their captain Daiki Takamatsu. The 27 year-old forward, who scored 52 goals for his club during last eight seasons, is looking to start off the year 2009 on a high note.
Takamatsu is one of few players in Oita with international experience as he was part of Japan's squad during 2004 Olympics in Athens, where he managed to score a goal against Italy, despite losing 2-3.
Takamatsu said: "It will be a very rare international experience for our club. As a captain, I want to lead my team to play well. We can use this competition as a stepping stone to greater things this season."
Oita will take on the Galaxy, the home side, on the 18th at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
If they win, they will play the winner of the match between Suwon Bluewings and Shandong Luneng on the 21st in the final. The two losers will meet in a third place face off.
Steve Han
Carson, California
Last season was the first time that the Kyushu club challenged for the J.League title since winning promotion in 2002.
Despite missing out on the title, Oita lifted their first trophy in club history last year after defeating Shimizu S-Pulse in the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup final.
Winning the Nabisco Cup also gave Oita the chance to play in the pre-season competition with Suwon Samsung Bluewings from South Korea and China’s Shandong Luneng - two Asian clubs with strong winning traditions.
"I'm very happy that we got the chance to play in the Pan-Pacific Championship. I'm looking forward to the match against the Galaxy," said Chamusca.
"But what's really important for us more than anything is that we play with style. Regardless of who we play, we will play our brand of football and also win games in the process."
Another man that will lead Oita this season is their captain Daiki Takamatsu. The 27 year-old forward, who scored 52 goals for his club during last eight seasons, is looking to start off the year 2009 on a high note.
Takamatsu is one of few players in Oita with international experience as he was part of Japan's squad during 2004 Olympics in Athens, where he managed to score a goal against Italy, despite losing 2-3.
Takamatsu said: "It will be a very rare international experience for our club. As a captain, I want to lead my team to play well. We can use this competition as a stepping stone to greater things this season."
Oita will take on the Galaxy, the home side, on the 18th at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
If they win, they will play the winner of the match between Suwon Bluewings and Shandong Luneng on the 21st in the final. The two losers will meet in a third place face off.
Steve Han
Carson, California
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
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