Intro
Finally, the wait is over. The people of Okinawa will now able to enjoy a derby match between two teams on the island within relative proximity to one another in the Japanese football pyramid (all due respect to Kaiho Bank FC). FC Ryukyu (J3) will face Okinawa SV (JFL) in the opening round of the 2023 Emperors Cup. It is the first ever competitive match between these two teams but neither side enter this competition in strong form with both sides situated near the bottom of their respective tables and both experiencing the exact same set of results the past six weeks.
Team Previews
FC Ryukyu: So, FC Ryukyu have been plummeting down the J3 standings since Match Day 3 and have only one win in their last six games. Ryukyu have endured a 3-game, and now a 2-game losing streak, with a 2-0 victory at home sandwiched in between. They’ve been outscored 11-6 and to be honest, have never looked that threatening at all in any of these games. The problems this team had last year – lack of quality shots, goals, maintaining leads, surrendering late goals, lack of in game management, and injuries – have somehow gotten worse in a lower tier of Japanese football.
The frustration finally reached a boiling point this past weekend following FC Ryukyu’s 3-2 home defeat to Gainaire Tottori with the head supporter voicing his, and all the fans, frustrations as the team came over to the stands at the end of the game. FC Ryukyu fans can no longer stand watching the team put in limp performances each week resulting in poor results and the loss of hope. The fans were promised promotion back to J2, but that seems a long way away under the current management and stewardship of the club.
The club must make a change at manager, and do it very soon, if they hope to recover and make a concerted push back into the promotion zone. Too often we as fans receive an email following matches in which Kuranuki outlines what he was trying to do and how some things are improving but the results beg to differ. The team is not improving under Kuranuki and in fact, is getting progressively worse as the season drags on. The fear that the club was making a similar mistake to 2022 when they appointed Kina from within has truly come to fruition.
While Granas’s message may have been heard and received by both Kuranuki and the team, the more important question is whether the management and owner of FC Ryukyu understand the fans frustrations, the mounting problems within the team, and are willing to act in a timely manner. I feel that if this were anywhere else in the footballing world Kuranuki would’ve been given his walking papers a few weeks ago. But that is not the case here and though one could make a very strong argument that if Kuranuki does lose this match to OSV he should absolutely be fired, but I don’t feel the club is prepared to make the switch.
Okinawa SV: Life hasn’t been great so far for OSV in their first season in the JFL. They aren’t nearly as free scoring (3 goals scored) or as dominant as they were in the regional leagues and have only one win to their credit this season. Perhaps one of the biggest jumps in competition from any tier in Japanese football is between the regional leagues and the JFL. I have only seen three OSV games this year and though the season started bright for OSV when they grabbed an early lead at Honda FC, things quickly started to deteriorate. They ended up conceding 3-goals in the second half and then went on to lose their next two game by 1-goal each.
OSV recovered on match day four with a 1-0 win at home over ReinMeer Aomori which was a very competitive match in which OSV looked very good, but they have since lost their past two games while being shutout in both. Their last loss to league leaders Sony Sendai was nothing more than being unlucky. OSV conceded a first half goal but looked the dominant side to start the second half and close out the match. OSV came so close to leveling the match and were unfortunate to have one of their last shots end up hitting the Sendai keeper and then unable to push the ball over the line in a goal mouth scrum at the very end.
That puts OSV in 14th place in the JFL table which is one spot above the relegation zone. There is still plenty of time for OSV to recover from their rough start with next week’s match against 15th place Briobecca Urayasu looming quite large.
Prediction
You have to ask yourselves, who wants it more, or better yet, who deserves it more? Based on the fact that I saw both of these teams play at home this past week I feel it might be OSV. It was the way in which OSV ended their past match compared to that of Ryukyu that makes me feel we may see one inspired team versus one that is lacking confidence and inspiration. That despite the fact that both sides have hugely important games the following week that may draw a little of their focus away from this competition.
The last time FC Ryukyu played a JFL side at home in the Emperors Cup it was against FC Imabari. As we know that game, along with the one against Imabari in the same competition the year prior, went to PKs with Imabari coming out winners both times. But if Dany is starting and this game somehow goes to PKs, then I would favor FC Ryukyu coming out on top. With that said, OSV to win the game in regulation play with FC Ryukyu winners if it goes to PKs. A truly weak prediction.
Conclusion
What may come as a shock to some supporters of other football clubs who regularly experience local rivalries, is that despite the proximity of these two teams, there exists little animosity among the fans or teams. Of course that is due in large part for these teams having never played against one another but also that the collective footballing supporters from Okinawa wish for both sides to do well. I have seen, and partaken firsthand, in the crossover of fans for both clubs attending the either’s matches. I guess that means you can maintain your love for your club, as I do with FC Ryukyu, and still support another club on the island while not considering them a rival. At least not yet. I am really looking forward to this game as the feelings surrounding this match are a much needed escape from the current doldrums many of us have while supporting FC Ryukyu. It is just a shame that someone has to lose this game. Come boys (I’ll leave that up to you to decide who that is directed at)!
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