NEWS
“Saitama Soccer Festa 2023 Supported by Meiji Yasuda Life” held
On October 22nd (Sunday), "Saitama Soccer Festa 2023" was held at Urawa Komaba Stadium.
The ``Saitama Soccer Festa'' is sponsored by Urawa Reds in collaboration with Saitama City, the Saitama City Soccer Community Development Promotion Council, and Omiya Ardija. Since the last time it was held at NACK5 Stadium Omiya, the host had shifted to Urawa Reds, and this time it was held under sunny skies and warm weather that was hard to believe for October.
First, Heart-full Club held a soccer class for elementary school students on the pitch. In addition to Heart-full Club coaches, Reds alumni also participated in the soccer class, which was divided into 1st and 2nd grade students and 3rd to 6th grade students. The children, along with their coaches and alumni, played enthusiastically and cheerfully with their coaches and alumni, including tag and a mini-game called the ``Number of People Game,'' in which points were added for cheering.
While soccer classes were being held on the pitch, a freestyle football class called ``Bukatsu'', foot golf, and soccer for people with disabilities were held next to the pitch. Participants in the soccer class were limited to elementary school students, but many people of all ages and genders enjoyed the various experiences.
In addition, outside the stadium, there will be booths for the Urawa branch and Omiya branch of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company, which is a special sponsor, a soccer PR booth for both clubs, a Saitama City booth, and air play equipment featuring the Saitama City PR character ``Tsunagaryu Nu''. "Nuu Fuwa Fuwa" has been installed.
Following the elementary school soccer class, a special match for alumni between the Reds and Omiya was held. Although the Reds OB allowed the Reds to take the lead in the first half, Mitsuru Nagata (2011-2016) took a spilled ball from a CK and used his right foot to tie the score, and in the second half, Shiya Nishizawa (2006-2010) Yoshiaki Sato (registered in 1994-1995) scored a goal with his left foot after exchanging passes with the team (registered in 1994-1995), resulting in a come-from-behind victory. Keisuke Tsuboi (registered from 2002-2014), who participated in the full race, excited the audience by repeatedly performing overlaps that utilized his speed.
At the end of the OB match, Hitoshi Shiota 's retirement ceremony was held as a surprise for himself.
Shioda, who played for both the Reds and Omiya and is currently an assistant goalkeeping coach for the Reds, was presented with a bouquet of flowers by his senior goalkeeper Ryuta Tsuzuki (played from 2003-2010), who was also the instigator of the retirement ceremony. He greeted the people involved, fans and supporters as follows.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Hitoshi Shiota and I played for Omiya Ardija and Urawa Reds. First of all, I would like to thank everyone at the Alumni Association and everyone involved for setting up a place like this. Honestly, I would like to say thank you to everyone involved today. I had no idea what to say since I was asked to do so, but I am truly grateful for the opportunity to speak in front of Urawa Reds and Omiya Ardija supporters.
After playing for 18 years, I decided to retire two years ago. However, based on my own thoughts and selfishness, I finally decided to retire without greeting my supporters. Not being able to say hello in front of everyone who supported me was the last regret of my active career, but it made me think that having a place like this is such a wonderful thing.
Although he only played for Urawa Reds for one year, he was able to end his career by winning the Emperor's Cup, and in five years with Omiya Ardija he made great strides, winning the J2 League and finishing 5th in the J1 League. I was also able to be one of the players on the team that did it. I have a lot of memories with these two teams. This is all thanks to all of our wonderful supporters who always give us their enthusiastic support.
What can I say? It's been two years, but I'm really happy that I was able to say hello in front of everyone like this. We will continue to do our best to help Saitama's soccer develop, so please support us. Thank you for today"
In the ceremony held after the OB match, Mr. Atsushi Takahashi, Vice Mayor of Saitama City, Mr. Attainment Kohsaka, Vice Chairperson of Saitama City Council, Urawa Reds Makoto Taguchi representative, and Mr. Morio Hashimoto, Branch Manager of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company Urawa Branch, greeted the audience, followed by a group photo.
The final event was a dream match between Urawa and Omiya. In addition to alumni of both clubs, players from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies and Omiya Ardija VENTUS also participated. Reds Ladies From the Urawa and Omiya clubs, Mayu Sasaki, Reina Nagashima, Fuka Tsunoda, Yuzuho Shiokoshi, Nonoko Kawai, Hanon Nishio, and Ena Takatsuka participated in the event.
In the Dream Match, alumni, ladies, and the general public formed teams and played 8-man walking soccer matches. The match was played on four courts on the pitch, with Urawa winning by a total of 27-25.
"Saitama Soccer Festa 2023" ended on a high note, with everyone, young and old, both participants and those watching in the stands, filled with smiles until the end.
Next year's Saitama Soccer Festa will be hosted by Omiya Ardija and will be held at NACK5 Stadium Omiya.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
The ``Saitama Soccer Festa'' is sponsored by Urawa Reds in collaboration with Saitama City, the Saitama City Soccer Community Development Promotion Council, and Omiya Ardija. Since the last time it was held at NACK5 Stadium Omiya, the host had shifted to Urawa Reds, and this time it was held under sunny skies and warm weather that was hard to believe for October.
First, Heart-full Club held a soccer class for elementary school students on the pitch. In addition to Heart-full Club coaches, Reds alumni also participated in the soccer class, which was divided into 1st and 2nd grade students and 3rd to 6th grade students. The children, along with their coaches and alumni, played enthusiastically and cheerfully with their coaches and alumni, including tag and a mini-game called the ``Number of People Game,'' in which points were added for cheering.
While soccer classes were being held on the pitch, a freestyle football class called ``Bukatsu'', foot golf, and soccer for people with disabilities were held next to the pitch. Participants in the soccer class were limited to elementary school students, but many people of all ages and genders enjoyed the various experiences.
In addition, outside the stadium, there will be booths for the Urawa branch and Omiya branch of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company, which is a special sponsor, a soccer PR booth for both clubs, a Saitama City booth, and air play equipment featuring the Saitama City PR character ``Tsunagaryu Nu''. "Nuu Fuwa Fuwa" has been installed.
Following the elementary school soccer class, a special match for alumni between the Reds and Omiya was held. Although the Reds OB allowed the Reds to take the lead in the first half, Mitsuru Nagata (2011-2016) took a spilled ball from a CK and used his right foot to tie the score, and in the second half, Shiya Nishizawa (2006-2010) Yoshiaki Sato (registered in 1994-1995) scored a goal with his left foot after exchanging passes with the team (registered in 1994-1995), resulting in a come-from-behind victory. Keisuke Tsuboi (registered from 2002-2014), who participated in the full race, excited the audience by repeatedly performing overlaps that utilized his speed.
At the end of the OB match, Hitoshi Shiota 's retirement ceremony was held as a surprise for himself.
Shioda, who played for both the Reds and Omiya and is currently an assistant goalkeeping coach for the Reds, was presented with a bouquet of flowers by his senior goalkeeper Ryuta Tsuzuki (played from 2003-2010), who was also the instigator of the retirement ceremony. He greeted the people involved, fans and supporters as follows.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Hitoshi Shiota and I played for Omiya Ardija and Urawa Reds. First of all, I would like to thank everyone at the Alumni Association and everyone involved for setting up a place like this. Honestly, I would like to say thank you to everyone involved today. I had no idea what to say since I was asked to do so, but I am truly grateful for the opportunity to speak in front of Urawa Reds and Omiya Ardija supporters.
After playing for 18 years, I decided to retire two years ago. However, based on my own thoughts and selfishness, I finally decided to retire without greeting my supporters. Not being able to say hello in front of everyone who supported me was the last regret of my active career, but it made me think that having a place like this is such a wonderful thing.
Although he only played for Urawa Reds for one year, he was able to end his career by winning the Emperor's Cup, and in five years with Omiya Ardija he made great strides, winning the J2 League and finishing 5th in the J1 League. I was also able to be one of the players on the team that did it. I have a lot of memories with these two teams. This is all thanks to all of our wonderful supporters who always give us their enthusiastic support.
What can I say? It's been two years, but I'm really happy that I was able to say hello in front of everyone like this. We will continue to do our best to help Saitama's soccer develop, so please support us. Thank you for today"
In the ceremony held after the OB match, Mr. Atsushi Takahashi, Vice Mayor of Saitama City, Mr. Attainment Kohsaka, Vice Chairperson of Saitama City Council, Urawa Reds Makoto Taguchi representative, and Mr. Morio Hashimoto, Branch Manager of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company Urawa Branch, greeted the audience, followed by a group photo.
The final event was a dream match between Urawa and Omiya. In addition to alumni of both clubs, players from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies and Omiya Ardija VENTUS also participated. Reds Ladies From the Urawa and Omiya clubs, Mayu Sasaki, Reina Nagashima, Fuka Tsunoda, Yuzuho Shiokoshi, Nonoko Kawai, Hanon Nishio, and Ena Takatsuka participated in the event.
In the Dream Match, alumni, ladies, and the general public formed teams and played 8-man walking soccer matches. The match was played on four courts on the pitch, with Urawa winning by a total of 27-25.
"Saitama Soccer Festa 2023" ended on a high note, with everyone, young and old, both participants and those watching in the stands, filled with smiles until the end.
Next year's Saitama Soccer Festa will be hosted by Omiya Ardija and will be held at NACK5 Stadium Omiya.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
