JAPAN will be looking to restore their damaged reputation in Asian soccer when they defend the Marlboro Dynasty Cup in Hong Kong next week.
The third edition of the four-nation tournament - organised by the sport's continental governing body, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) - will feature holders Japan, South Korea, China and, for the first time, Hong Kong, who are stepping in for the unavailable North Koreans.
The action starts at the Hong Kong Stadium next Sunday with Hong Kong meeting Japan in the opening match, followed by China against South Korea.
After a round-robin competition, the leading two teams will contest the final at the Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday, February 26, when the winners will collect US$200,000 of the US$570,000 prizemoney.
While China and South Korea will give big-match experience to their Olympic (Under-23) players in qualifying year for the 1996 Games in Atlanta, the Dynasty Cup holders will be leaving nothing to chance and have named a squad which reads like a Who's Who of the J.League.
Under head coach Shu Kamo, Japan's provisional squad of 30 players includes goalkeeper Shigetatsu Matsunaga (Yokohama Marinos), defenders Masami Ihara (Marinos) and Satoshi Tsunami (Verdy Kawasaki), midfield stars Tetsuji Hashiratani (Verdy), Hajime Moriyasu (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) and Tsuyoshi Kitazawa (Verdy) and strikers Yoshiyuki Hasegawa (Kashima Antlers) and Koji Noguchi (Bellmare Hiratsuka).