Seagulls face "big challenge" at Dresden
(May 16, 2012) - For Makoto Ohashi, the head coach of five-time japanese national champion Obic Seagulls, the upcoming game against the Dresden Monarchs in Dresden, Germany, on May 19 is a great opportunity for his players to gain rare and valuable international experience. "In 1999, the 1st World Cup of America football was held in Italy. The 2009 U-19 team’s World Cup was also held in Europe. In the football world, 'International' is the key word and the sport is becoming more and more international. Now Japanese footballers need to be more physical and more athletic. Right now, only Japan national team members are able to experience international games against foreign teams. So I would like my teams' players to experience playing an international team. I think the experience to go to Dresden will be a big challenge for our team. A challenge that we must meet to become stronger", Ohashi says about the trip to Germany.
Not that the Seagulls are in dire need of international experience. For the past couple of years they are probably the best american football team outside of North America. The roster of the record japanese champion is filled with players who have represented Japan as members of the Japan national team and with DE Kevin Jackson, LB Karl Noa and OG Frank Fernandez includes three american players who belong to the best players of the X League. Still, contrary to the situation in Europe there is a lack of regular international competition for the teams of the X League. The top teams in Europe face each other regularly in competitions like the Eurobowl and the EFAF Cup. For X League teams the only potential opponents for regular international games would be teams from South Korea where the level of play is much lower than in Japan.
Therefore the game at Dresden is a great opportunity for Ohashi's team to play against a quality opponent from one of the top leagues in Europe, Germany's GFL. "I recognize that Germany has the best football in the Europe. The GFL is very developed. Whenever I watch GFL games, I am always impressed by the favorable environment for football and the large fan presence", says Ohashi. "I appreciate what Mr. Huber, president of GFL, and Mr. Asada, president of JAFA have done for making this game possible."
(Text: Dieter Hoch)
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Seagulls claim record fifth Rice Bowl win
(January 4, 2012) - X League champion Obic Seagulls celebrated a record-setting fifth Rice Bowl win defeating college champion Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters 38-28 in front of more than 25.000 fans at the Tokyo Dome. The defending japanese champion, playing in the Rice Bowl for the sixth time, also won the national championship in 1996, 1998 and 2005.
The Seagulls needed a strong second half to come back for the win. For large parts of the game the Fighters looked like the better team, taking a 17-11 lead into the fourth quarter. The matchwinner for the Seagulls once again was QB Shun Sugawara. After a disappointing first half Sugawara stepped up after the halftime break. On the first play of the fourth quarter the Seagulls took the lead (18-17) for the first time with a 4-yard touchdown run by Sugawara, a play that was set up by a 45-yard pass from Sugawara to WR Ken Shimizu.
For one last time the Fighters were able to answer regaining the lead (20-18) with a 29-yard field goal. About six and a half minutes later Sugawara scored on a 14-yard run for a 24-20 Seagulls lead. The next two offensive series of the Fighters ended with interceptions, leading to two more touchdowns and a 38-20 lead for the Seagulls within a two and half minute span - the first one on a 25-yard pass from Sugawara to WR Takahito Anan and the second one, with just under two minutes left to play, on a 19-yard pass from Sugawara to WR Noriaki Kinoshita.
(Text: Dieter Hoch)
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