On Monday, the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mai Dang Hieu, played host to a group of teenager players from Vonds Ichihara football club in Japan led by the Chairman of the Ichihara City Sports Association, Mr Shimobaru Seiki.

Deputy Director Hieu remarked that the visit by the Japanese guests and their recent friendly match with teenager players from SHB Da Nang would help to further deepen the fruitful bilateral relationship between his city and Japan in the near future.

Mr Shimobaru (left) and Deputy Director Hieu

In reply, Mr Shimobaru highly praised the SHB DN players for their warm welcome and friendly attitudes.  Effective sport exchange activities with the city’s club had provided a chance for the Japanese players to improve their playing skills.

He also promised that his association will make arrangements for SHB DN’s teenage players to visit Ichihara City for a friendly match against the Japanese football club soon.   He added that a group of representatives from his city will participate in a Viet Nam-Japan cultural and cuisine exchange programme which is taking place in Da Nang later this month.

Founded in 1967, this Japanese football club was first named Furukawa Electric Chiba SC and in the 1989-90 season it won the Chiba Cup.  In 2008, it was renamed SAI Ichihara and then from 2011 Vonds Ichihara.