MILAN - Inter Academy returns to Japan, as technical director Marco Monti and fitness coach Stefano Rapetti are back at Technos College in Tokyo for another workshop, following the one held last autumn.
The workshop is called "Developing perceptive and basic motor skills in the youth academy." Inter’s on-site activities will proceed as follows: a practical session on Monday; a refresher course for local coaches on Tuesday; practical activities again on Wednesday in either one or two sessions.
The project involves the more than 200 children aged 4 to 12 enrolled in the Yoyogi and Sagamihara (two neighbourhoods in Tokyo) football schools. The schools opened just a few months ago and are already a big success, also thanks to the important work from ex-Nerazzurri player Massimo Ciocci (technical director of the Academy) and ex-Japan international Shoji Jo.
All this has been paralleled in the practical aspect, and you will certainly recall the 18 children from the Academy who paraded before the kick-off of Inter v Udinese last 27 March. The lap the young Nerazzurri made around the pitch of the San Siro was the culmination of their Italian tour, after training sessions at the Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti and taking in several Inter youth team matches.
In a statement to inter.it, the project’s technical director Marco Monti wanted to stress: "We’re very happy because we were able to see some excellent players and noted an impressive technical level. Roberto Samaden [Inter’s academy director] was also impressed by it. We’re all pleased and can’t help but look to the future with a sense of optimism."
The project continues to move forward with another visit for the young Japanese players expected next spring.
