Once Again Japan Will Be Represented at the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup

J-League team, Kashiwa Reysol will participate in the Super Group

Tournament Manager Randy Jones remembers the day approximately one year ago on 11 March 2011 when the many friends of the Dallas Cup in Japan experienced the most powerful earthquake to every strike their beautiful country. Damage from the earthquake and Tsunami that followed shortly after was beyond belief. The date of this devastating event was approximately 5 weeks before the 2011 Dr Pepper Dallas Cup was to begin play on April 17. The Japanese Under-18 National team was scheduled to compete in the prestigious Super Group and compete they did. The resolve and determination shown by the entire delegation, players and staff, of the JFA was truly inspirational and during the tournament’s Opening Ceremonies the team received a “standing ovation” from the crowd of more than 15,000.

“While the recovery is still a work in progress the resolve of the Japanese people is something very “special” in many ways.  One of the “special” ways is through participation in our beautiful game of football and we are very pleased to have the J-League’s Kashiwa Reysol with us this year”, states Randy Jones. “All of us at the Dallas Cup hope that once again the Dallas area soccer fans will come out and support the “Sun Kings” as they represent Japan.”

Head Coach and former Japanese International Takahiro Shimotaira states, “On behalf of Kashiwa Reysol Football Club and supporters from the J.F.A we would like to express great appreciation for the Dallas Cup committee’s invitation in the Super Group. This is a very honorable opportunity for us to participate in such a highly competitive tournament.  Kashiwa Reysol Academy develops the players to the Top team based on quite consistent principal. Fortunately the Top team won the Championship in J1 Pro-league and were Semi-Finalist at the FIFA Club World Cup last season.  So now we are ready to play against other strong clubs in the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup Super Group in order to advance to semi-final as the first Japanese team to do so at Dallas like the Runner–up in MIC International tournament (Spain) by defeating Brazil National in the past”.

Dr Pepper Dallas Cup is the oldest international youth soccer tournament in the United States, celebrating its 33^rd year in 2012. Dallas Cup contains seven age groups from U13 to U19 level and entertains on average more than 160,000 spectators during the week. Since its inception in 1980, Dallas Cup has played host to teams and referees from over 45 states, 100 countries and 6 continents. Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXIII kicks off at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, April 1^st, 2012 with the championship games taking place April 7 and 8.

For further media inquiries please contact Albert Chia and Daniel Robertson via email at albert@dallascup.com and daniel@dallascup.com

If interested in sponsorship opportunities with “Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXIII” or the “Dallas Is Diversity Program” please contact Executive Director Gordon Jago at the Dallas Cup office via phone at 214.221.3636 or via email  (gordon@dallascup.com).