Japanese Non-league Football News

2005 Kansai League champions Banditonce Kobe are the early leaders of the race for the 2006 title, as a goal and two assists from former Yokohama FC striker Masato Ishida helped them to a potentially vital 4-2 win against ambitious newly-promoted side FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu. Last year's top challengers, Kobe FC 1970 and Ain Food, are both in the bottom half - and although Kobe squeezed past Takada FC 3-2 to pick up their first points of the year, Ain lost 2-1 at AS Laranja Kyoto and are still seeking their first points of the year.

In Division 2, relegated side FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 move to the top of the table thanks to a 3-1 win at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe, but level on points with them are Hermano Osaka - who also came down from the top flight at the end of 2005 - and Technonet Osaka, 3-2 winners at Osaka-based student outfit Riseisha FC. Down at the bottom and still pointless after two games are Kohga School, who were beaten 4-2 by Kihoku Football Group.



Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe before their game with FC Kyoto BAMB


Division 1

AS Laranja Kyoto 2-1 Ain Food
FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 2-4 Banditonce Kobe
Kyoto Shiko Club 0-2 Sanyo Electric Sumoto
Takada FC 2-3 Kobe FC 1970

1 Banditonce Kobe 6 (+4)
2 Sanyo Electric Sumoto 6 (+3)
3 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 3 (+1)
4 Takada FC 3 (+1)
5 AS Laranja Kyoto 3 (-)
6 Kobe FC 1970 3 (-2)
7 Ain Food 0 (-3)
8 Kyoto Shiko Club 0 (-4)


Division 2

Kihoku Football Group 4-2 Kohga School
Kobe FC Senior C 2-3 Hermano Osaka
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 1-3 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993
Riseisha FC 2-3 Technonet Osaka

1 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 6 (+4)
2 Technonet Osaka 6 (+3)
3 Hermano Osaka 6 (+2)
4 Kihoku Football Group 3 (-)
5 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 3 (-1)
6 Riseisha FC 0 (-2)
7 Kobe FC Senior C 0 (-3)
8 Kohga School 0 (-3)