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TOKYO, March 13: Japan plan to host two scheduled international football friendlies later this month despite the devastation caused by the biggest earthquake on record, which triggered a 10-metre tsunami that submerged the country's northeast coast.
The 8.9 magnitude quake struck on Friday and with officials estimating a death toll of more than 10,000, major sporting events in Japan were postponed over the weekend but the football association believes the friendlies would help rally the nation.On Sunday, Japan Football Association (JFA) general secretary Kozo Tashima confirmed the matches against Montenegro on March 25 at the Shizuoka Stadium, southwest of Tokyo, and New Zealand in the capital four days later would go ahead.
“It would mean something to stage these games, more than ever,” the Kyodo news agency reported Tashima saying at the JFA headquarters in Tokyo.
“We will hold it in Shizuoka of course, and I think having the game in Tokyo will really mean something. The matches are still two weeks away and we need to send a message to the rest of the world.
“The images people are seeing on CNN and what not, the world probably doesn't have an accurate view of what Tokyo is like at the moment.
“We need to inform people that Tokyo is functional, that the city is OK and order is being restored in Tokyo again.
“The entire Japanese football community needs to help the country,” Tashima added.—Reuters
