China U-19 soccer team to host Japan at friendly
23/4/2006 10:02
The Chinese under-19 soccer team will start their preparations for the AFC
Youth Championship 2006 later this year with a friendly against Japan on April
26.
The China Football Association (CFA) announced a 20-member squad for the
match in which China will be led by interim coach Jia Xiuquan, who is likely to
be replaced by a well-known foreigner in May.
The CFA are pursuing a world
big name to head the youth team, which will become the Olympic team at Beijing
Games 2008.
The Japan Football Association listed a 21-man squad earlier this
week, but several players are to miss the match due to club duty, including
Yokohama F Marinos striker Mike Havenaar and Kashima Antlers fullback Atsuto
Uchida.
The friendly will be played at the Helong Sports Center in Changsha
of midsouth China.
China are in Group B with United Arab Emirates, Thailand
and Australia for the AFC Youth Championship which will be on show in India from
October 29 to November 12.
Xinhua News
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