Second batch of S’porean coaches start Japan attachment stint under Unleash The Roar initiative

SINGAPORE – Just two weeks into his stint as an assistant coach for Japan’s J2 club Ventforet Kofu, former Young Lions coach Nazri Nasir already has his heart won over by the professional set-up and football culture.

The 54-year-old said that he wants to stay for an extra year, even if it is to coach a youth team.

“My target is to continue another year, to take one of the youth teams here. If I get a chance to stay here another year, whether it’s a J2 or J3 team, I am okay. This is my goal, I want to learn Japanese and I’ve got an interpreter here to teach me… I want to take a team here one day,” said Nazri in a video call.

He is one of three coaches who will spend the rest of the year on attachment with J.League clubs.

They form the second batch of the Coach Overseas Attachment (COA) programme, an initiative under the Unleash The Roar! national football project.

Geylang International women’s head coach Ratna Suffian and Singapore Sports School coach Miur Rafik Taha will join J1 side Tokyo Verdy, following in the footsteps of Tanjong Pagar United coach Noh Alam Shah and former Singapore international Isa Halim, who had a six-month attachment in 2024.

Nazri is part of the backroom staff at Ventforet, who are based in Yamanashi prefecture, and will serve as assistant coach to head coach Shinji Otsuka.

When asked how he was adapting, Nazri said: “Excellent man, superb. I really enjoy myself here. I experienced a lot of new things, a lot of things to see, and I enjoy that… I love this place.

“For challenges, probably the language, but more or less, when they talk about football, whatever they say, I can understand. Football language I’d know, even if they speak in Japanese.”

One thing that stood out for him is the work ethic that he has seen among the players there.

Nazri added: “I see the difference discipline-wise. During the game or training, they show a lot of commitment. They show a lot of desire and everybody is fighting for their place.

“And during training, the intensity is top notch. Normally, we train for about 80 to 90 minutes, but no need to tell them what to do, everybody will stay back and do something to improve themselves for 45 minutes to an hour. Maybe the Japanese players’ mindset is like that. But I don’t see players from clubs in Singapore doing that, not really for 45 minutes.”

Ratna echoed his sentiments, saying: “Individualised training is a big thing. A lot of the players actually stay on after training to hone their craft, even things as simple as basic passing.

“This is something that is a culture for them. They really spend a lot of effort trying to improve things that they are weak in.

“Of course, there are people back in our league that are doing this as well, but I think that they (the Japanese) do it at a different level. They do it in high intensity and that’s how they get better.”

Ratna, 46, looks forward to getting more insights to develop players from the youth team to J1.

The 2024 Women’s Premier League’s Coach of the Year hopes to be able to observe women’s football in Japan as well, having already seen the Tokyo Verdy Beleza (women) team in training.

Marcus Tan, Sport Singapore’s chief of sport development group, said: “We are heartened by Tokyo Verdy’s continued support for the second season of the COA programme.

“Their dedication to fostering meaningful coaching exchanges has been instrumental in shaping valuable learning experiences for our coaches. At the same time, we are appreciative of the strong support provided by Ventforet Kofu in this initiative.

“Together with both clubs, we look forward to building stronger football ties with Japan while raising the standards of coaching excellence in Singapore.”