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A memorable day for lucky young stars in Malaysia
Budding Malaysian footballers are given the opportunity to learn and train the Okada Method guided by coaches from FC Imabari
A football clinic was held by Mitsubishi Electric, title sponsor of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024, at Space U8 in Shah Alam that included knowledge sharing with local coaches as well as introductory training for a group of young children to arm them with the Okada Method with the session guided by Isao Dobashi who is the head of youth coaching at FC Imabari, a J3 League team in Japan.
Okada Method is a football training philosophy developed by Takeshi Okada, the legendary former coach of Japan’s national team. Japan’s first-ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals in France 1998 was with Okada at the helm. Girls from Shah Alam Rovers Academy and Aurora Kickers Football Club were part of the clinic, taking on the knowledge of this methodology which focuses on strategic movement and mental agility on the field.
Also in attendance were Malaysian football legends and champions of the 2010 ASEAN Championship in Mahali Jasuli, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Amri Yahyah. Norshahrul who himself is a grassroots coach these days, had high praise for the Okada Method, “I follow the grassroots coaching and this method looks different and can be attractive to children under the age of 10. There are things that I can take away and look to implement for my own coaching especially for the Under-12s.”
The legends were involved throughout the sessions, not only in giving advice to the girls but also joining in some of the activities, utilizing their honed skills to show the participants how each drills are done.
Among the participants was 13-year-old Sangkaviee Paranisivam from Shah Alam Rovers Academy who thoroughly enjoyed all the drills that was introduced by Isao, highlighting the difference compared to the training she is used to.
“It was fun. Coach Dobashi taught in a very good way, he was very patient with us, took his time and always with a smile. The best was when we played six on six. That is because he wanted us to celebrate each goal as a group for a point to count, if we didn’t celebrate together then the goal didn’t count. That was unique and fun,” she said.
The football clinic adds to the excitement of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024, where Malaysia are placed in Group A, kicking off their campaign with a meeting against Cambodia on December 8.
