By Jonathan Leask  October 3, 2011

Mid Canterbury Football has held its annual trials for the 12th grade Japan Cup team with players anxiously waiting for the squad announcement.

Mid Canterbury will again be sending a team, coached by Greg Feutz, Peter Roberts and Callum Brown, to Japan to play in the Friendship Tournament for the Japan Cup in August.
A total of 32 players trialled with a  final squad of 16 to be named next week so they can begin preparing both for the on-field action and fundraising for the trip.
The bi-annual exchange has been a little one-sided recently with the Japanese unable to make the return trip to Ashburton in their past two attempts because of the swine flu scare in 2009 and the earthquakes this year.
However, they are still keen to keep the football relationship going, and Mid Canterbury returning to Japan will achieve that.
The trip offers local young players the chance not only to play football against international opposition in a different climate, but also to experience the travel and culture associated with it.