The “Juventus Japan Tour 2005” was presented during the press conference held at the conference hall at Sisport Centre, attended by Commercial Director Romy Gai and coach Fabio Capello. Between May, 30th and June, 8th the Bianconeri will play two friendly matches in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Juventus are going to meet Yokohama F-Marinos, Japan League current title-holders, on June, 1st at Yokohama Stadium in Tokyo and on June, 7th Capello’s lads will play against FC Tokyo, last season’s Yamazaki Nabisco Cup winners, at Ajinomoto Stadium, again in Tokyo.
“We’ve been away from Japan since 1996, when we won the Toyota Cup – Romy Gai explained. We’re important on that market, where the Italian championship has many fans and Juventus are supporters’ favourite club. That’s why for us the “Juventus Japan Tour” represents a moment of excellence under a corporate point of view and an important event on a commercial level: Juventus will receive over one million euros per match.”
“We’ll play against titled clubs – continued coach Capello. We have to take these matches seriously and with committment, considering how Japanese soccer’s quality is clearly improving. We’ll be missing players who are in the National team as well as the lads from the Primavera, who, by that time, will be in the final phase of their championship, however we’ll field the best possible roster and we’ll try to do well and honour our name, also to respect what we represent in that country for all our fans.”
“As a proof of our seriousness in these occasions – Romy Gai finished – the team we’ll train in the very stadiums where the matches will be played, the day before, as it usually happens in International Cups”.
Besides the two matches already scheduled, details for a further match, to be played on June, 4th in Hong Kong against Kitchee Football Team, are being discussed.