MILAN – The Inter Academy Japan coaches and children visiting Milan enjoyed a busy final day yesterday, which included an unforgettable tour of the Stadio Meazza.
Coaches Masatoshi Yamazaki and Daisuke Hatono and the 23 budding footballers met with technical director Marco Monti – just back from a visit to Brazil – and Aldo Montinaro during their morning training session at the Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti.
Our Japanese visitors then took in talks by Stefano Bellinzaghi and Roberto Niccolai, who together with Andrea Ratti, Matteo Traina and Nello Russo (on the field) provided refresher lessons for the visiting trainers, offering useful advice not only for the pitch but also for daily life in general.
Massimo Ciocci, who coordinates the Japanese coaches and FC Internazionale's permanent coaching team in Japan, was also involved. Despite remaining on the opposite side of the world with the other 150 children - who followed the experience from afar - he kept in touch with the youngsters in Italy through regular phone calls and social media channels.
The day was rounded off with a visit to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza – a magical moment for the Japanese youngsters, who can now return to their country with vivid images of the hallowed turf they dream of one day playing on. A dream they can keep chasing with every training session thanks to Inter Academy.
