FIH Series Finals | Japan have prepared well for the competition in Bhubaneswar, says Siegfried Aikman

06/03/2019

Japan men’s hockey team’s coach Siegfried Aikman has stated that the team has prepared well for the FIH Series Finals which will be played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from June 6. Japan is placed in Group B alongside Mexico, South Africa, and the United States of America in the tournament.

The FIH Series Finals in June is the initial stage of Olympics qualifications for all the participating teams but not for Japan. The Asian Games gold-medallists, Japan qualified for the sporting extravaganza in their capital city even before the continental glory as the hosts of the Olympics.

However, the team, under the captaincy of Manabu Yamashita and the guidance of coach Siegfried Aikman, is leaving no stone unturned for the upcoming event and have prepared well for the eight-nation tournament in Odisha’s state capital.

"We have prepared well for the competition here. In the build-up to the tournament, we have played against all different styles of teams which are similar to the teams we will be facing here at the FIH Men's Series Finals Bhubaneswar Odisha 2019,” Aikman said after arriving in the host city, reported Hockey India.

There are six players in the Japanese team, who have secured more than or close to 100 International Caps, and according to their coach, the experience in the team can play a huge role. Aikman also spoke about the hot and humid weather condition at the venue situated in the eastern coastal part of India.

"It was almost impossible for us to prepare in a similar weather because the summer is just starting now in Japan, so we haven't got the chance to experience such heat. We did play in Korea before coming here where it was hot as well, but not this hot, so we will focus on adjusting as soon as possible," explained the 60-year-old coach.

South Africa will be the toughest opponents for Japan in Group B while they might have to face India in the later round s of the tournament. When asked about Japan’s chances against teams like South Africa, Mexico, and the USA in Group B, the head coach said that they focus on their team and performances of their players.

“We focus on our own play, we know what we can do, and that is enough. If you have to win a competition like this, you have to win against everyone, and that is what our aim is. We are very ambitious, and we will do everything to win the competition. Of course, we will be taking it one match at a time, but the team is well prepared to face the challenges.

"We want to win because of the FIH World Rankings, especially because the rankings will make a huge difference in the division of Pools for the Tokyo Olympics 2020. We did not participate in the FIH Pro League, so we need to get the most points from here in order to improve our ranking,” Aikman concluded.