20 July 2011
Japan Football Association (JFA) President Junji Ogura has heaped praise on his women’s football team who won the FIFA Women’s World Cup beating USA 3-1 on penalties in Sunday’s final at Frankfurt.
“There is no happier president than a World Cup winner,” said Ogura. “The players have showed the brilliance of Japanese women.”
He picked Nadeshiko’s ‘Captain Fantastic’ and tournament MVP and Golden Boot winner Homare Sawa for special admiration saying he would like to see Sawa on the organising committee if Japan hosts the event in the future.
“I want Sawa to be on the organising committee if Japan hosts the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” he said.
Sawa, who has scored 80 goals in 173 games for Japan, led from the front as Nadeshiko completed an astonishing run that overshadowed any achievement by an Asian soccer team at any level.
Japan’s slow but steady ascent to the top of the pile underlines the hard work done by the JFA, which has invested heavily from grassroots level upwards in women’s football.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Read More:
Nigeria: Ogura Praises ‘Nadeshiko’