On the 3rd, Avispa Fukuoka announced that defender Ando Tomoya (26) has been selected for the Japanese national team to compete in the East Asia E-1 Championship to be held in Korea in July. This is the second time that Fukuoka has been selected as the A national team member in 24 years since forward Yamashita Yoshiteru in 2001.

In 2011, Ando joined FC Imabari, a former J3 student at the time, from Aichi Gakuin University. He transferred to J2 Oita Trinita in 2013 and has been playing for Fukuoka since this season. He is the center back, whose strength in aerial combat, making use of his tall height of 190 cm, is his weapon, and despite being a defender, he also has the scoring ability to score four goals this season.

In response to an online interview, Ando first commented when he was selected for the national team, saying, “To be honest, I am very surprised and very happy.” As he prepares for the first time since the U-19 national team in January 2018 and the U-19 All-Japan University selection in July, he expressed his strong desire, saying, “We will face off against national team players from various countries on defense, so defensive response is of course important, but we would like to engage in attacks as well. I want to make an overwhelming presence on offense and defense, and I want to first perform national team activities with the image of going to the game and becoming a successful player.”

He also expressed his joy at achieving the A-President through accumulation of efforts. “I had wanted to become a professional since I was a child, and I wanted to perform well for the Japanese national team, but it was J3 that started my professional career. I was able to play in J1 for five years starting from J3, and was selected for the national team this time, so I'm glad I've been steadily working hard.” The man who proved that he could grow to be called to the national team even after starting from J3, will now show his strength on the Korean pitch.

[Japan National Team]Members announced for the East Asia E-1 Championships Kobe Miyashiro Daishiro, Kawasaki F Yamada Arata, and others selected for the first time / list