Japanese Non-league Football News

Details here of the 26th Western Japan Football Tournament, of which the first group matches took place in Yamaguchi prefecture on Friday. The competition, which is open to the top two teams in last season's Kyushu, Shikoku, Chugoku and Kansai leagues, is the first real opportunity in the calendar year for fans to assess the likely strengths and weaknesses of some of the top non-league teams during 2007.

The big winners in Friday's games were Chugoku champions Fagiano Okayama, who crashed eight past Nippon Steel Oita and therefore qualify to play on Saturday against FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu, late winners over Kamatamare Sanuki. In Group 1, Banditonce Kobe cruised past FC Central Chugoku and will take on V Varen Nagasaki - winners over Nangoku Kochi - in the second game. Full results and fixtures are below.



FC Central Chugoku line up before their loss to Banditonce Kobe

Group 1

Fri 23 Feb: Match 1: Banditonce Kobe 6-2 FC Central Chugoku
Fri 23 Feb: Match 2: V Varen Nagasaki 3-1 Nangoku Kochi

Sat 24 Feb: Match 3: Banditonce Kobe - V Varen Nagasaki 2
Sat 24 Feb: Match 4: FC Central Chugoku - Nangoku Kochi

Group 2

Fri 23 Feb: Match 5: Fagiano Okayama 8-1 Nippon Steel Oita
Fri 23 Feb: Match 6: Kamatamare Sanuki 2-3 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu

Sat 24 Feb: Match 7: Fagiano Okayama - FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu
Sat 24 Feb: Match 8: Nippon Steel Oita - Kamatamare Sanuki

Sun 25 Feb: Tournament Decider: Winner Match 3 - Winner Match 7
Sun 25 Feb: 3rd / 4th place Decider: Loser Match 3 - Loser Match 7
Sun 25 Feb: 5th / 6th place Decider: Winner Match 4 - Winner Match 8
Sun 25 Feb: 7th / 8th place Decider: Loser Match 4 - Loser Match 8