Nazri sets sights on extending coaching stint in Japan

Just two weeks into his stint as an assistant coach for Japan's J2 club Ventforet Kofu, former Young Lions coach Nazri Nasir already has his heart won over by the professional set-up and football culture.

- Melvyn Teoh

The 54-year-old said that he wants to stay for an extra year, even if it is to coach a youth team.

"My target is to continue another year, to take one of the youth teams here. If I get a chance to stay here another year, whether it's a J2 or J3 team, I am okay. This is my goal; I want to learn Japanese and I've got an interpreter here to teach me... I want to take a team here one day," said Nazri in a video call.

He is one of three coaches who will spend the rest of the year on attachment with J.League clubs. They form the second batch of the Coach Overseas Attachment (COA) programme, an initiative under the Unleash The Roar! national football project.

Geylang International women's head coach Ratna Suffian and Singapore Sports School coach Miur Rafik Taha will join J1 side Tokyo Verdy, following the footsteps of Tanjong Pagar United coach Noh Alam Shah and former Singapore international Isa Halim, who had a six-month attachment in 2024.