The Summer 7s returned to YC&AC after being held at St Marys last year. 16 teams all equipped with water, suntan lotion and some even with their own tents were ready to burn off their post World Cup hangover in style.
Prior to each tournament I often get asked who is good and who are the favourites? Being a professional I always sit on the fence but I may mention a few teams by name. This tournament was odd in a way that a few big guns ended in the Plate tournament. They do say it’s a ‘funny old game’.
The final match of the season saw British Embassy take on the Champions Tokyo Hibernian. The match was significant for 2 reasons. Firstly is was Rafa's last TML match before he returns to Italy and Tomo was chasing the Division 1 Golden Boot award. He was trailing BFC's Kohei Hanada by 3 goals.
The game started with an early British Embassy goal. A minute later Hibs hit back and equalized. Before half time they scored again to make it 2-1. Tomo had scored one of the goals, he needed 3 more to be the leading scorer outright.
This Saturday will see a TML Legend play his last game in Japan. Raffa will be leaving Japan early next month with a heavy heart and heavier luggage! With 8 TML Division 1 titles and 5 FJ Cups, we can only hope he doesn't mind paying for the extra baggage costs. Raffa will be attending the End of Season Award Ceremony on the 30th June so please all come down and say goodbye.
With titles and runners up spots all sorted, the TML headed into the 40th weekend of the season with a few teams battling it out for position. One position no team wants to have is 10th in Division 3. This is a position where Nepal United had been for most the season. After a battling 3-3 draw last weekend v BEFC Lions they needed a victory to leapfrog the hapless KGFC to finish 9th.
Barbarians and Fussa both had chance of promotion before the Christmas break. Since then both teams form has been indifferent.
They met on a lovely Saturday afternoon at YC&AC.
The game was mainly one way traffic with Barbarians dominating the play and scored a couple of early goals. Due to the hot conditions it was time for both teams to have a mid game water break. This seemed to help Barbarians more as they scored 3 more to complete a 5-1 victory.
It was Super Saturday last weekend for the Top 3 in Division 2. Suns FC, Musketeers & Lions FC all had hopes of not only promotion but also winning the division.
I was hoping for back to back matches involving all the 3 teams on Saturday afternoon but I was requested to move the Lions fixture till later in the day due to religious reasons.
Clash FC
Panthers FC
BEFC
Hibernian FC
FC Sagarmatha
Eastern Capital FC
Brunello FC
Pumas FC
YeBoiz FC
Dutch FC
FC Nomade
FC International
Guapo FC
SUNS FC
Sala FC
Fussa FC
Zion FC
YC&AC
Saitama JETS FC
Kilimanjaro FC
Jetro FC
Teranga FC
Albion Old Boys FC
Shane FC
BFC Tokyo
King George FC
BEFC Lions
Lions FC
