{"id":4645,"date":"2024-10-18T13:35:24","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T03:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=4645"},"modified":"2026-08-17T10:52:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T01:22:41","slug":"urawa-laud-a-new-era-for-womens-club-football-in-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/urawa-laud-a-new-era-for-womens-club-football-in-asia\/","title":{"rendered":"Urawa laud a new era for women\u2019s club football in Asia"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first step towards greater things is often the most important. Women\u2019s club football in Asia has now completed that step and the positives are plain to see.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The AFC Women\u2019s Champions League is Asia\u2019s long-awaited expansive club competition that aims to one day rival Europe\u2019s illustrious UEFA Women\u2019s Champions League. The inaugural edition of the tournament is now underway with the group-stage rounds concluding this past weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese representatives Urawa Reds Ladies, who comfortably topped Group C ahead of Ho Chi Minh City, Taichung Blue Whale and Odisha FC, returned to their home training ground this week and were all too eager to share their optimism for the competition when addressing several media partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The central location of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, played host to the Saitama outfit and their Group C compatriots with players and coaches alike heralding the excursion as a fully worthwhile endeavour on many levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe found the environment pretty comfortable and there was a great vibe amongst the players,\u201d Reds\u2019 boss Naoki Kusunose said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor some of the younger players it was a great opportunity to participate in an overseas competition and experience different types of opponents and style of play that we can\u2019t find here in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe week we spent in Vietnam really enhanced our team chemistry as players were able to constantly spend time together. We could also afford to give valuable game time to some of our newer members and see how they are progressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe announced the starting line-ups the evening before so such players would have time to fully prepare for the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference in standard between teams at this stage of the tournament is all too apparent, as highlighted by Reds\u2019 17-0 win over Odisha. Questions will surely be raised over the entertainment value of the competition with some going so far as to scrutinise its very existence. But if an even playing field is the overarching objective, then each step in the process must be taken in stride. Rome wasn\u2019t built in a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kusunose takes a progressive view here and considers just how standards can rise across the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was an obvious imbalance of ability during the group stages. But I believe up-and-coming teams, like Odisha, will take confidence from this outing and be much better for it,\u201d the Tokyo native asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJapan is currently ranked seventh in the world but we sometimes climb as high as fifth or sixth. Therefore we can proudly say we rank highest amongst Asian nations and I think that is a good level for these teams to aspire to as they continue to improve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With the group stages wrapped up stiffer opposition awaits in the latter stages of the tournament. Caution appears to be the preferred approach for Kusunose from here on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile it is true that our level was fairly higher than our group stage opponents,\u201d he said, \u201cthe same cannot be said for the other top-seeded sides in the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpecifically teams from South Korea and China have some very good players and we simply can\u2019t expect any easy games moving forward. We need to think about how we can improve further and take that next step ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experience was also lauded by the players as being both a step forward for Asia and an exercise that benefits their efforts back home. Veteran midfielder Akari Kurishima fielded several questions from The Asian Game<\/em> on the side\u2019s experience in Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe enjoyed our time there,\u201d she recalled with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe weather was pretty hot but there wasn\u2019t too much stress as we settled into the tournament. I think there were many positives, especially for our younger players who haven\u2019t played many games yet. It was good for them to start official games and wrack up their experience points that they can then use in the league back here in Japan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, the exchange appears to be of a symbiotic nature. The continental competition offers an opportunity to try new methods against different opponent typologies that aren\u2019t present in Japan\u2019s domestic WE League. It is also a chance to involve fresh talent in an attempt to develop squad depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A natural question to follow might relate to fatigue and conditioning. This is certainly a hot-topic in Europe and with such a long distance between Japan and Vietnam it is a reasonable concern to raise here. But Kurishima was quick to alleviate any such concerns, from the Japanese perspective at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo be honest we all seem to be feeling fine and aren\u2019t especially tired after the trip to Vietnam,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe scheduling works well with our league campaign so I don\u2019t thing there are any issues there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By topping their group Reds secured progression to the quarter-finals with home advantage. The fixture will be played over a single match in March with the subsequent semi-finals and final to be held after the current WE League season ends in May at a centralised location that is yet to be determined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is simply a realists view to consider the AFC Women\u2019s Champions League a work in progress that is some way from producing matches of high entertainment value. But the focus should remain on the long-term process and whether incremental progress is being made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, the voices of those closest to the game suggest that things are undoubtedly heading in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Images: <\/strong>Asian Football Confederation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to Episode 233 of The Asian Game Podcast<\/strong> as we discuss the AFC Women’s Champions League with Ho Chi Minh City WFC midfielder Meghan Root<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n