Young Japanese Talents Join Ajax for a Special Training Week

It’s an exciting week for two rising stars, Isa Sakamoto and Shinya Nakano, who are now training with Ajax‘s U23 team. Both talented Japanese players hail from Gamba Osaka, a prominent club in Japan’s J-League, and have the chance to hone their skills against some of Ajax’s young talents.

The partnership between Ajax and Gamba Osaka has opened doors for this unique experience. Nakano, who has previously visited Amsterdam with Sagan Tosu, expressed enthusiasm about being back in the city and working with renowned coaches.

Sakamoto shared his thoughts, mentioning that this is his first trip to the Netherlands. He feels grateful for the opportunity provided by Ajax and highlighted how special it was to train with the Ajax first team during a joint session on Tuesday.

Accompanying Sakamoto and Nakano is Teho Ando, the technical manager of Gamba Osaka. His role is to guide the young players in absorbing Ajax’s football philosophy throughout the week.

Meanwhile, Ajax is also strengthening ties with Gamba Osaka. Notably, Marijn Beuker and Corné Groenendijk visited Japan to foster collaboration between the two clubs, especially after Gamba Osaka’s delegation visited Amsterdam earlier this year to officially launch their partnership.

The partnership aims to enhance talent development and identification, laying out a framework for collaboration that spans the next three years.

Switching gears a bit, there has also been an interesting milestone for Ajax. Remko Pasveer has made headlines by becoming the oldest player to ever feature in an official match for Ajax at 40 years old, surpassing fellow goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

This remarkable achievement came during a match against FK Vojvodina, marking Pasveer’s 51st appearance for the club. Among his notable records, he has secured clean sheets in more than half of his games.

The forthcoming days are buzzing with anticipation as Ajax prepares for their matchup against FK Vojvodina in the UEFA Europa League. With kick-off scheduled for Thursday evening, the team is determined to secure a favorable outcome and progress in the tournament.

Technical Director Alex Kroes and Director of Football Marijn Beuker are hard at work, strategizing the club’s future following a challenging period. Their focus is on developing talents and establishing a positive atmosphere as they gear up for the upcoming season.

As Ajax looks ahead, they are also aware of the potential opponents in the next round of the Europa League, should they prevail against FK Vojvodina.