JAPAN's performances in the 2022 FIFA World Cup highlighted the team's technical prowess even when playing on the defensive end, making them a major threat against the top teams like Germany and Spain.
It was also the time when the Blue Lock anime was making headlines due to Japan's blue colored jerseys.
So what's the secret to the Samurai Blue's success? Let's take a look at how their academies function. A YouTube video from Japanese Food Craftsman would show in detail what happens inside Gamba Osaka's Youth academy.
For starters, Gamba Osaka is one of the most accomplished Japanese football clubs, winning a plethora of J-League titles and they even secured the AFC Champions League trophy back in 2008. The team also has affiliations with Dutch football powerhouse, AFC Ajax.
How does Gamba Osaka's academy function?
Like in most football academies, players are categorized based on their age group. Gamba Osaka's academy hosts kindergartens, grade school, and high school students.
Chosen high school students will stay inside the academy's dorm, located near the Panasonic Stadium, the home of Gamba Osaka.
What goes inside Gamba Osaka's academy?
The video gave a detailed description as to the schedule of the academy. Overall, Gamba Osaka hosts 40 high school students.
Here's a rundown of what happens inside.
5 AM - Chefs prepare the meals for the students. The meals involve breakfast, and the packed lunch for students who will attend their schools.
7 AM - The students wakeup, with some tasked to clean the academy dorm. Others proceed to eat their breakfast meals.
10 AM - Some of the students will proceed to their academic institutions, others stay to train
12 NN - Lunch
After Lunch - Official training for all Youth academy players, meanwhile, the chefs in the bootcamp will prepare dinner.
7:30 PM - Dinner
8:30 PM - Cooling
In addition, Gamba Osaka offers a variety of study programs ranging from career guidance, language training, food and nutrition education, etc. With these programs, the academy players have a broad range of career options besides being a football player.
What meals are served?
Protein is the number one source of nutrients for these students and most of them would use the weighing scale to determine the quantity of protein at their disposal.
And because of the emphasis on protein, here's what they'd usually take.
Breakfast - Japanese Curry
Packed Lunch - Bento meals: Noodles with Tonkatsu, fried sweet potato,
Lunch - Rice Balls wrapped with bacon, Soba Noodles, Yogurt with Chia Seeds and honey for smoother intestinal movement.
Dinner - Beef and Fish with rice, protein milk
With so much resources and support, no wonder why Japanese football clubs can form their own 'blue lock' program, only this time around with more emphasis on team camaraderie and discipline above everything else.
Perhaps this could be something that Philippine football clubs can look into especially now with foreign clubs like Villarreal entering into the scene.
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