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Sam Akinaka is excited to play a professional team. Akinaka recorded four goals and three assists for the Seasiders in 2007.

January 18, 2008

Soccer to Play Japanese Professional Team

Justin Hong will help the Seasiders with attempts on goal.

Laie, HI—Brigham Young University Hawaii men’s soccer team will be playing a training match against the preeminent professional team from Japan’s J.League, Gamba Osaka. Gamba Osaka will be in the islands competing in the newly organized Pan-Pacific Championship to take place in Honolulu on February 20th and 23rd.

The four teams to participate in the 2008 tournament are: reigning MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo featuring Haleiwa, Hawaii native Brian Ching; the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Champion Gamba Osaka, with 19-year-old Japanese sensation Michihiro Yasuda and J.League star Yasuhito Endo; the 2007 SuperLiga finalists Los Angeles Galaxy, whose international roster includes English superstar David Beckham and perennial MLS all-star Landon Donovan; and a club to qualify from the Hyundai A-League Final Series, which concludes in February 2008 ahead of the Pan-Pacific Championship.

“This tournament will unite four terrific clubs from across the region to crown a true Pan-Pacific champion,” said Doug Quinn, president of Soccer United Marketing, organizers of the event. “Honolulu was selected as the host not only for its geographical location in the center of the Pan-Pacific, but also for its community, its terrific infrastructure and its history of hosting top international sporting events. We will work closely with the local community to stage a world-class soccer tournament that includes festivities throughout the week.”

“It is exciting to have the opportunity to compete with players of that caliber,” said BYU-Hawaii junior Sam Akinaka from Haiku, Maui. Akinaka spent two years in Fukuoka Japan on a LDS mission. “I have followed the J.League a lot, and the level of play there is incredible and Gamba is a premier club.”

Gamba Osaka will play BYU-Hawaii men’s team on February 15th at 3:00 pm at Waipio Stadium and Hawaii Pacific University men’s team on the 17th. The games will be three 45-minute halfs. All are invited to attend.

For more information on the Pan-Pacific Championship please visit the official website at www.ppchampionship.net.