From 21 to 27 June, 16 players from the VfB U11s as well as four coaches and several parents will travel to Japan. They’ve been invited by Japanese club Shonan Bellmare to take part in the Copa Bellmare 2023, which is taking place in the prefecture of Kanagawa south of Tokyo. Shonan Bellmare is the club where VfB captain Wataru Endo began his career. During a visit to Japan by a VfB delegation in March, led by chief marketing and sales officer Rouven Kasper, the idea came up in discussions with the club’s officials to invite VfB’s U11 to Japan and to the next edition of the Copa Bellmare.
The 24-team tournament, which is being held at Banyu Fureai Park in Hiratsuka, begins on 24 June with the group stage and finishes a day later with the final rounds. Besides VfB, five teams from other Asian countries are participating: Nongbua Pitchaya FC (Thailand), Boeung Ket FC (Cambodia), ASIOP FC (Indonesia), Best Eleven FC (South Korea) and Dalin Tornado FC (China). J-League clubs Shonan Bellmare, Sagan Tosu and Nagoya Grampus are also entering teams in the two-day tournament, with 15 local sides making up the rest of the field. In the past, top European clubs such as Juventus, Villarreal CF and Sporting Lisbon have taken part in the Copa Bellmare.
In the days leading up to the tournament, the VfB team will explore Tokyo and the Shonan region in the company of their hosts. VfB will also play a friendly match against the U11s of the Japanese top-flight club on 23 June. Apart from the internationalisation strategy, the main focus is on gaining cultural experience and the exchange between the children.
Thomas Krücken, academy director, said of the upcoming trip: “We’re very happy about the tournament invitation from Shonan Bellmare, the boyhood club of our captain Wataru Endo. It once again demonstrates VfB’s deep connection with Japanese football. It gives our U11s a great opportunity to test themselves against international opposition and learn about other cultures.”