To all players of powerchair football, ever since I have known you for 5 years, I have been encouraged every time I watch the game.
This is the first world tournament. Those who have been chosen for the national team members should do their best to win as representative of all.
No matter what the result is, the struggle you make will leave a legacy to yourself and powerchair football. That will give power and pluck up heart of many people.

In the world there are various sports. Of all, powerchair football is the most distinguished. Any one can play, however their challenges are. Dominating the ball, succeed in tricks and play a miraculous through pass, everyone can get excited, thrilled and feel the pain just as same as the World Cup Football.
No other sports could expand the bound. I want to applaud all players of powerchair football. Players around the world can expand the world of sports, and by doing so they are expanding the arena of world peace and happiness.
Go for it, all players on powerchair around the world! And go for it, Japan team!

If you make a wish and strive for the goal, it can unite the heart of people all over the world. Congratulations for holding the first Powerchair Football World Cup in Japan. People, who love football get together, form a community and from that many new possibilities will be born. Powerchair football has unlimited possibilities.
I support the powerchair football players around the world.
Challenge! Make a wish to a ball.

I’d like to congratulate the opening of the Powerchair Football World Cup.


What is common in both Shogi (Japanese chess) and football is that we fight with all our passion and devotion. And, we can see something far beyond just “winning or losing” there.


And there is something for football but not for Shogi, “teammates”. You are very fortunate that you are able to keep running towards common aims with your precious teammates.


Good luck to Japan national team members. I am looking forward to watching your matches and cheering for all of you.

It is wonderful to have such a special competition, “the World Cup”, held here in Japan. Through energetic play by our own National team, it would be a great opportunity to let everyone know that you can play football even with powerchairs.


To Japan national squads, raise “Hinomaru (Japanese national flag)” on you and be proud　of playing in the national team. I am looking forward to seeing heated matches to be played.


And, to all athletes from all over the world. Wherever we come from, we share the same passion for the football. The heated battles showing our affection to football will move all the people watching games. And it will make the World Cup in 2007 more exciting.

Good luck!


© Jubilo Iwata

The “first step” is needed to start anything new, but it is not so easy to open up the door. For all the national team members, who are representing all the powerchair football players of the world’s favorite sport, football, my respect to all of you for your great efforts you have made to pave your ways! I am also a great soccer fan and highly excited about the World Cup. I cannot wait to see you try your best and go after the ball beyond any boundary of nationality, career or sex.

I believe this event will bring you many opportunities to meet new people, to know each other’s way of life and attitudes toward life and to stimulate one another. It would be wonderful if you have various exchanges outside of the field, too.

For volunteers and staff members, thank you for your hard work. As one of supporters, I really admire the enthusiasm of all the people concerned as well as the players.

I once covered a story about this young female basketball player. She was paralyzed below the waist because of a car accident but she?just like any other person?had a job and enjoyed playing basketball at her leisure. She even took part in the Paralympics. While I was interviewing her,I came to realize something: Feeling refreshed by actively playing games and sweating, interacting with team mates, sharing joy of victory and pain of defeat…these experiences and feelings are the same as what anyone else gets from playing sports.

The first Powerchair Football World Cup will be held here in Japan. I am sure the participants will get the same feeling at this event. But before anything, all of you participants, do enjoy yourselves, and that will send a message all around the world.

Congratulations on the world festival of powerchair football, the first FIPFA World Cup Japan 2007!

While I knew of a sport called powerchair football, to be honest, I never had an opportunity to see it. However, upon receiving this opportunity to send a supporting message, I watched a video of powerchair football for the very first time. I was simply amazed to see how powerful their play was. Players were skillfully handling their chairs at speed, running back and forth, or turning around and tactically dribbling or passing and going for a goal!

I was fascinated, and my eyes were fixed on their play.

I’ve heard that six countries will be taking part in this competition. I hope to see thrilling games in which each team aims for the champion cup. What the most important thing is―it’s that trying your best so as to have no regrets. I myself, as a soccer player, am cheering you on!

Photo credit / Masaaki Sawanobori

Hurrah for the Powerchair Football World Cup!
Not just watching and wishing to play football, but you actually act on it.
That is amazing!
The very moment and the very atmosphere when you run after the ball never come back.
So enjoy yourself as much as you can.
You are fantastic for loving and being so absorbed in football!
I send hearty cheers to you all! Hurrah, Hurrah!
I hope you cherish your passion forever.
And, many thanks to all of you.

I would say football is more intellectual than many people may think.

A player’s body is just one of tools. The way to enjoy football or the tide of a game totally depends on how to use that tool. The same goes for football using a power wheelchairs.

Excitement of cutting into a space behind the opponents, thrill out of reading the opponents’ play, and a great satisfaction of making a score--those are the same feelings you get regardless of using your body or your power wheelchair.

I hope all players truly enjoy playing football on the grand stage of the World Cup.

Congratulation for the Powerchair World Cup hosted here in Japan.
Hearing that France National Team is predicted to be the winner, I think I see why.
I often visit France for business and feel sport is really a part of their everyday lives.
During my pastime, I join a football team of the town called Mon Perier and play.
Age group of players on the team is relatively high, with some in their forties and fifties but half of them are former professional players.
A former France National Team player sometimes shows up, too. At times, sons of these players come watch games, which makes me envy that they have opportunities as a child to watch such skilled players play.
It is my observation that the fact people enjoy sport in every day life is the reason why France is such a distinguished team.
I look forward to days when sports will become more and more familiar in Japan as well, and Japan teams will always be names as one of the expected winners at Powerchair Football World Cup, too.

First of all, congratulations on hosting the Powerchair Football World Cup here in Japan.
It has been 12 years since I started my coaching career for football teams in 1995.
Beliefs I have heretofore nurtured as a coach is, “To show a style of football that excites the audience” To achieve this, players themselves must be enjoying playing in order to get people enjoy watching. Similarly, powerchair football players also should enjoy playing. That would definitely get people excited and moved, which in turn will contribute to the great success of the first world cup.
I often say to players, “Start from pass work” -- to keep passing a single ball with trust among your team mates to aim for common goals. I look forward to seeing greatest games played together with precious team mates. Go for it, Japan!

”picture offered by Hitachi Kashiwa Rasol

Population of soccer players is one of the largest of all sports.
Not only international games, but I often see many people on wheel chairs coming to watch football games in general.
I think it is wonderful that people on wheel chairs not only watch but play games themselves.
Soccer is a kind of sport in which efforts by players can enhance the popularity and the excitement.
The world cup in Japan would be a good opportunity for people to go support players and “feel” the excitement of games.
I myself will definitely go to experience the same feeling.
I hope that J- League players would also come and see these games.

It is a great pleasure to be having the first Powerchair Football World Cup held here in Japan.

The event will make a precious opportunity to promote powerchair football to people.

When I had an opportunity to watch a video of a powerchair football match, I was surprised and impressed to see how each player seemingly easily maneuver their chairs and perform tactfully with excellent judgment.

I hope the Japan team unites with each other to play and fully displays its ability.

I know the result of a game is important, however, firstly, do enjoy playing football.

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Play according to your own judgment without hesitation.

I also hope Japanese players would take this opportunity to expand their horizons by meeting a lot of players from other countries during the competition.

And the World Cup I believe will provide many occasions for overseas participants to know more about Japan and to feel closer to our country of Japan.

Go for it, Japan team!!

It is great to have the first world cup in Japan.

I am competing to succeed at an international level in Jeff United and to win the Olympics as the Japanese national team of U-22.

The Japanese national team of powerchair football! Compete to be the best in the world cup.

To all of those participants national team members, welcome to Japan! I sincerely welcome you all as a football player.

Please make many friends and have fun.

I expect a strong work from those who run for the world cup management.

I pray that this world cup will be wonderful games to all.

Congratulations on the Powerchair Football World Cup held in Japan.

When I once had a chance to see a practice match, I was very impressed by their skillful chair maneuvering and powerful play on the pitch and, above all, by participants themselves who enjoyed playing football from the bottom of their heart.

The first ever World Cup being held in Japan will not only raise the profile of powerchair football but also be a great help to promote this sport here in Japan.

I can easily imagine how much time and energy have been dedicated by the people concerned in order to host the World Cup.
There are generally not many opportunities to see world’s top-level games with our own eyes, however, thanks to holding of the World Cup in Japan, more people can go to the venue and see those games directly.

For all players, you can convey the fascination of powerchair football to spectators by playing and competing earnestly and passionately.
I hope you would enjoy playing games freely so that your hard practice heretofore really pays off.

Best wishes for the success of the World Cup and the great performance of all participants!

Photo taken by Isao Horikiri

I believe that the experience you compete as a member of national team will leave a legacy in powerchair football.
I sincerely hope the success of the first world cup game held in Japan, which would be the big step.

With best wishes for holding the Powerchair football World Cup in Japan.

Japan national team members may boost the morale for playing at home ground. I look forward to watching fine plays.

Football cannot consist of a player; I’m hoping to see all team members unite their bodies and their spirits, and play their best for the goal.

I believe that each and every all players’ play will give dream and aim to the youths, and carry Japanese football history forward.

Congratulation for the first power chair football world cup in Japan.
I am very pleased to have such match games in Japan.
In my country Holland power chair football is very popular and there are many major matches.
For the purpose of social contribution, I supported power chair matches.
Soccer is “for everyone” and everyone can enjoy. People on power chair can also enjoy.
It is wonderful to everyone. I expect power chair football become more popular due to this world cup games in Japan.

Anyone can enjoy soccer. We including myself were also able to learn many things from it.
Players of powerchair football can also enjoy playing and learn things from it.
Soccer is a sport that gives all of us equal chances and joy.
I hope that will be proven when the World Cup successfully keeps growing to be a great, major tournament.

Congratulations on hosting the first Powerchair Football World Cup in Japan.
I watched a powerchair football match and also had an opportunity to try using a powerchair the other day. To handle the powerchair seemed easy, but actually was very tough. My honest impression is that it is just amazing that they can move and run in all directions with the powerchair in such a small court.
I will definitely come and cheer the World Cup! And, I truly wish for Japanese national team’s victory!

Hello, everyone!
This is Spolyngman.
I’ve been around the world and thought “Sports are great after all!”

Just as motor sports which I’ve watched, sports can make our hearts move, from the sense of unity among the players, the audiences and the supporting staff members.

The Powerchair Football World Cup.
I was so delighted to experience the moment when people of various identities got united through powerchair football.

Thank you all! And I will keep supporting!

As the World Cup game has successfully come to an end, the relay messages will be closed.

Every one, thank you for supporting us!

Congratulations to the national team member who participated and all staff members involved in the memorable first Powerchair Football World Cup games.
For Cerezo Osaka to which I belong, there are many supporters on powerchairs who would come to the practice field and games at Nagai stadium and give us warm, supporting words.
My mother country Brazil is famous for the zeal for soccer, but may be less compared to the players and staff members of the powerchair football.
As one of the great fans of soccer, I wish the best of luck for each of you participating players coming from all over the world.
Go for it, soccer comrades of the world!

Cerezo Osaka head coach Levir Culpi

I think that it is very meaningful to have the memorable first World Cup game in Japan. I hope in such a major cup like the World Cup that all the players can fully show the skill and team work that they have worked hard for.

On the other hand I hope the players would take this opportunity to get to know other national team members well through good communications.　

I believe this World Cup would be the best place for the battle of the passion and enthusiasm.