Soccer fans get ready to pick your favorite players for this summer's J. League JOMO All-Star match.
Voting for the annual exhibition game, slated for Aug. 24 at Saitama Stadium 2002 (6 p.m. kickoff), will begin Sunday, the J. League announced Friday in Tokyo.
Votes can be cast by filling out the players' names on a ready-to-mark sheet available at J. League games, JOMO gas stations and J. League official souvenir shops. Or you can write down your choice of players on a hand-written post card and send it to the following address: JOMO All-Star Soccer Supporters' Voting Office, Central Post Office, Yokohama 221-8770.
Voting can also be done on the Internet (www.j-league.or.jp) and by facsimile (Attn: JOMO All-Star Soccer Supporters' Voting Office at 03-5206-5132). But all forms of voting will be closed on July 21.
You can name up to 10 field players, one goalkeeper and one manager for both the J-East and J-West side, but it is possible to pick just one player for one side. There will be no restrictions on the number of foreign players per team and any formation will be acceptable.
Each team will consist of 16 players. The 11 starters and manager for each team will be chosen according to the number of votes cast, with the manager and J. League adding the further five players. The final team rosters will be announced in the middle of August.
For further information, call JOMO All-Star Soccer Supporters' Voting Office at (03) 5206-5122. Tickets for the game will go on sale from the middle of July. Further details will be announced later.
"I expect we will have more Japanese players going overseas to play after the World Cup and the All-Star Match will be a farewell event for these players," J. League chairman Saburo Kawabuchi said.