Senior Japan Football Association advisor and former president (1994-1998) Ken Naganuma today received a special award from the Germany Football Association for his and the JFA's contributions to friendship with their German counterparts. The award was presented to him at the Deutscher Fussball-Bund special congress held in Leipzig a few hours prior to the FIFA World Cup final draw.
"I believe that not me but the Japanese football family has been given this prize," said Naganuma, as reported by the JFA website. "We, Japanese football, might not have returned in kind that which the DFB has given us over a long period of time, but I think the fact that Japan has developed ever since we received the guidance of Mr Dettmar Cramer may be part of what we owe them."
The 75-year-old former Japan player was one of those who learned modern coaching from German coach Cramer in the 1960s. Naganuma then coached Japan in the 1964 and 1968 Olympics, guiding the Boys in Blue to the quarterfinals and a bronze medal, respectively.
"I believe that not me but the Japanese football family has been given this prize," said Naganuma, as reported by the JFA website. "We, Japanese football, might not have returned in kind that which the DFB has given us over a long period of time, but I think the fact that Japan has developed ever since we received the guidance of Mr Dettmar Cramer may be part of what we owe them."
The 75-year-old former Japan player was one of those who learned modern coaching from German coach Cramer in the 1960s. Naganuma then coached Japan in the 1964 and 1968 Olympics, guiding the Boys in Blue to the quarterfinals and a bronze medal, respectively.