Japan exhibition game seeks Hawai'i players
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
A football team of former college players is being assembled to represent Hawai'i and the United States in an exhibition game against Japan's top team July 14 at the Tokyo Dome.
When: Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Where: Radford High School Qualifications: Ages 21-35, college football experience a must. Interested players are asked to contact head coach Ronald Oyama at 330-4514
A one-day tryout for "Team USA Hawai'i" is set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Radford High School. Prospective players will be tested in the 40-yard dash, as well as other drills, and will go through an interview process. The roster is limited to 45 players.
Team USA Hawai'i Tryouts
"The players we pick may not necessarily be the best football players, but the best role models who can represent Hawai'i and the United States," said Ronald Oyama, Team USA Hawai'i's head coach. "We are looking for players with character and integrity, because this is a chance to represent the state and the nation against Japan's best team. It's a great opportunity for our top athletes to showcase what the sport of American football is all about."
Football's popularity has been growing rapidly in Japan the past 15 years, and Team USA Hawai'i's opponent is the top team in the "X-League," which originally was called NFL Japan. The Japan players mostly are corporate employees who are paid to play football on company time.
Oyama said eight players on the Japan team have experience in NFL Europe, and Japan won "World Cup" championships in 1999 and 2003 against teams from other countries.
"Everybody thinks Japan is behind in football, but I've seen some of their players and they're bigger and more athletic than before," said Oyama, who was Kaimuki High School's head coach for five years. "Their work ethic is unreal, and right now they're in spring ball and they're playing two games a month, so they're gonna be fast and in shape. And they're determined to be the best, so they're very serious, almost fanatical. They're not to be taken lightly."
The Hawai'i players will be provided airfare and hotel accommodations for the trip. Oyama said he is seeking sponsors to help pay for other expenses.
The exhibition game was proposed by the X-League and pitched to Oyama through David Stant, a former Kahuku and University of Hawai'i standout now coaching in Japan. Oyama said Japan football officials want to use the game as a "test match" to see where they stand.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
