23 Mar 2003(Sun)

The decision of the Japan Football Association to cancel the national team's two-match tour of the United States was predictable and expected.

It was also right.

Some people, especially North Americans in Japan, have been critical of the JFA, saying they panicked and that there would have been no danger.

But who knows what may have happened, and what may still happen around the world following the U.S.-led attack on Iraq without approval from the United Nations?

The main fears, of course, are for repercussions from Islamic extremists who view the attack as the start of a "jihad" -- a holy war between Christians and Muslims.

And if these terrorists can achieve what they did on Sept. 11, 2001, they can do anything, anywhere.

So I think it is right and proper that the JFA puts the safety of the players first and foremost.

As much as everyone wanted the matches to take place, there is simply no need at this moment to take an unnecessary risk in flying to a country at war, and flying from city to city on the west coast when the threat of terrorism, however small, exists.

It is a sad situation that the world has come to this, but it is hardly the fault of the JFA, and there is no point criticizing the JFA for being too cautious.

It is a much better policy to stay at home, hold a training camp as Zico wants to do, and hopefully play a friendly international on March 29, possibly against Uruguay.

Zico's original squad of 23 included seven players based in Europe, but whether these players will travel to Japan remains in doubt.

Shunsuke Nakamura's Italian club Reggina did not want him to go to the United States, and it's unlikely they will want him to travel back to Japan just for a training camp.

Hamburg SV felt the same about Naohiro Takahara, as they simly did not want him flying about the world at such a delicate situation.

I heard the news that the tour was off before the Jubilo Iwata-Yokohama F Marinos J1 opener at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa on Friday afternoon.

No one was surprised by the JFA decision, and not many seemed surprised that Jubilo were 2-0 down inside 10 minutes and lost 4-2 to Takeshi Okada's revamped team.

Jubilo's preseason build-up has not been smooth, and several of their experienced players looked tired and slow.

This could be due to over-training, rather than under-training, as new manager Masaaki Yanagishita is working his players hard.

But Yanagishita has an impossible task this season, after Jubilo won both stages last year under Masakazu Suzuki.

There is only one direction Jubilo can go, and that's down, not up.

Yanagishita must decide whether to overhaul the team and bring in fresh faces, or persist with the ageing heroes from 2002.

A fascinating season is in store for the J.League.

ends