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FIFA honored JFA its Fair Play Award in order to reward JFA’s accomplishment last year. Fair Play Award given to those players, teams, and organizations that play soccer fairly and cleanly by FIFA’s rule of the game, respect opponents, and show sportsmanship without swearing, cheating, or fighting. In other words, it is recognition of good, sporting behaviors, and other achievements by the players or teams throughout the world. FIFA honors JFA this award not only for the Japanese soccer teams’ performances on the field, but also for JFA’s efforts on encouraging Japanese people to overcome with grief after the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
In addition to Fair Play Award, Japan coach—Mr. Norio Sakaki won Women’s Coach of the Year Award and captain—Ms. Homare Sawa received Women’s Player of the Year Award as well. These award winnings are both the first-ever for an Asian country in the world soccer history. Although Mr. Sasaki, Ms. Sawa, and the entire Nadeshiko Japan team members will bear an enormous weight of national expectation in the chase for Olympic gold in London this summer, we believe their ability to overcome any difficult challenge after we have seen their courage in the face of adversity in 2011 Women’s World Cup.
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