CNMI football success is Guam's dream

CNMI football success is Guam's dream

By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter

A relieved Richard Lai, president of Guam Football Association, showed up at the banquet for the 4th Annual Marianas Football Cup and shared the mixed emotions he felt during the Guam-CNMI tussle last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.

“About two minutes before the match ended and with CNMI ahead, I was nervous. It seemed like we were about to lose a game against the CNMI for the first time,” Lai said during the banquet at the Seaside Grill of Saipan Grand Hotel.

After a scoreless first half, the CNMI took a 1-0 lead when Joe Miller nailed a goal in the 68th minute off a gamble by Guam goalie Brett Maluweng.

“But at the same time, I was proud, as several years ago, this CNMI players were just getting the feel of the game and we are helping them reach the competitive level of play by playing against them. Now, CNMI players improved significantly and they were about to beat us,” the GFA head added.

Fortunately, Jason Ryan Cunliffe saved the day for Guam, drilling a late goal in the 89th minute to force a 1-1 tie.

“My boy, Jason came out with the gutsy play and scored, just like what he did during the EAFF preliminary in Guam last year,” Lai said.

Cunliffe made a game-tying goal for Guam in the 91st minute during their match against Macau, allowing Guam to rule the preliminary tournament and beat eventual runner-up Mongolia.

With or without Cunliffe's game-saving goal last weekend, Lai had his hats off to CNMI players, its coaches, and officials for a well-organized event and for giving Guam another tough game.

“It there's one organization which will be proud to see CNMI players improved, it would be GFA. Your success in football is our dream. We will do our best to help Northern Mariana Islands Football Association develop its program and continue improving their players' skills,” Lai added.

Meanwhile, Lai and the Guam men's and women's team members and coaches thanked organizers of the Marianas Cup for providing them a much improved pitch.

Two years ago, Guam strikers struggled in a bit rocky and dry Oleai pitch. Then more than a month before this year's Marianas Cup, NMIFA through the help of both the private and public sectors rehabilitated the pitch, which now resembles the manicured greens of a golf course.

NMIFA president Jerry Tan thanked all those who contributed to the successful staging of the Marianas Cup and vowed to keep the good condition of the Oleai pitch and seek improvement of other fields to ensure safety of the players.

Marianas Cup ends in 1-1 draw

From the Saipan Tribune:

Marianas Cup ends in 1-1 draw
By Roselyn Monroyo
Monday, June 21, 2010

Almost, but not quite.

The CNMI Men's National Football Team was poised to pull off an upset over rival Guam when Jason Ryan Cunliffe scored a late goal, forcing the two neighbors to share honors in the 4th Annual Marianas Football Cup as the Saturday match at the Oleai Sports Complex Field ended in a 1-1 draw.

The host smelled blood when forward Joe Miller found the back of the net in the 68th minute, giving the CNMI a 1-0 lead.

All the Commonwealth's strikers needed to do was play tough defense and frustrate the visitors' attackers. CNMI goalie Chris Nelson and company did just that for nearly 20 minutes after Miller's goal until Cunliffe found one small lapse on the host's defense.

Guam swung the ball to the left with Cunliffe leading the attack and finding himself inside the penalty box. Two CNMI defenders faced Cunliffe, while Nelson instead of leaning to his left opted to move to his right to provide help defense in case the Guam forward decided to inch in closer and pass his defenders.

Nelson had been successful in running after Guam attackers and quickly diving for the ball in the first half and in the opening minutes of the second half. However, this time Cunliffe read the defense well and instead of moving in closer, he stopped and made a cross kick to the right where CNMI defenders were unavailable to block the shot. Nelson made a last-ditch effort of saving the ball, but was unsuccessful.

Cunliffe knocked down the equalizer in the 89th minute and with only a minute left in the match, Jason Schroeder had two chances to score from the left corner, but just could not get the ball to roll in.

When the game ended past 7pm, it took match commissioners a while to decide how to resolve the draw. Stressing the importance of players' safety and considering the inadequate lighting at the pitch, officials, in consultation with both teams, decided to call it a night and declare the CNMI and Guam as co-champions of theMarianas Cup.

Saipan hosted the Marianas Cup for the second time since its inception in 2007. In the first three editions, Guam came out the winner all the time.

Guam and the CNMI's fortunes seemed headed for a switch Saturday afternoon, as the host turned out to be the aggressor at the start of the match.

The CNMI surprisingly dominated possession in the first half and each time the home team had the ball and went for an attack, it drew loud cheers from the crowd, majority of whom obviously rooted for the Commonwealth's strikers.

The loudest roar came when Miller lit up the scoreboard on a shot inside the penalty box. Yikiomi Adachi started the offensive play when he sprinted to the left corner and made a pass to Miller in the center. Guam goalie Brett Maluweng then saw Miller moving closer, so the former gambled on stealing the ball before the latter could hit it. Maluweng paid a dear prize for the gambit, as he collided with Miller and the ball slipped away from his hands. With Maluweng still on the ground, looking for the ball and Guam midfielder Jude Bischoff a few steps late for a rescue, Miller found himself alone in the center and kicked the ball in.

The remaining minutes after Miller's goal were scary for the CNMI, as it repeatedly tried to foil Guam's attempts to equalize, until Cunliffe found one small opening on the host's defense to save the day for the visitors.

After Cunliffe's goal, the CNMI was left with limited options on offense, as Miller was already on the bench. Miller was injured and was pulled out of the match several minutes after he scored.

The CNMI had three more casualties due to the intense game, which saw a lot of shoving and accidental collisions. First to go out was Edwin Cruz, who fell on the ground after banging against a Guam defender. Next was Peter Houk, who also collided with a Guam defender in the second half. Houk and Cruz both went out of the game in a stretcher, but managed to go home in one piece. Midfielder Gilmark Reusora left the game midway in the second half limping, as he rammed into Maluweng while trying to recover a loose ball near the goal box.

As the game ended in draw, the CNMI was without its four starters, while Guam had two players forced to sit on the bench due to injuries.

“Injury definitely took its toll on us. We're just a few minutes away from victory, but unfortunately, Guam had time to tie the game. Still, I believed we did a pretty good job tonight, as the players gave their all in the game. Maybe next time, we will finally catch them,” CNMI captain Nick Swaim said.

“What you saw tonight was a high-level competition and we're just proud to give Guam a tough match, which something we always strive for every time we play against them,” he added.

Good News, Good News

We've gotta home! Well, it's not worth living in (or on, for that matter) but it's still a home. Get ready, world. Football in the CNMI is going to improve quickly and we just might beat a FIFA team before you know it (I'm looking at you, Guam).

Read here from today's Saipan Tribune or just read below:

NMIFA finally finds a home

By Jon Perez
Reporter

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signs the agreement designating a land for the proposed Koblerville Football Stadium yesterday at the Governor's Office conference room on Capital Hill. (Jacqueline Hernandez) A state-of-the-art football facility will soon rise in southernmost village of Saipan after Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Department of Public Lands Secretary John Del Rosario yesterday signed a land title transfer to the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

Present to witness the signing at the Governor's Office conference room in Capital Hill were Northern Mariana Islands Football Association officials led by president Jerry Tan, vice president Sue Knecht, secretary general Wes Bogdan, and treasurer Vicki Izuka as well as DCCA acting secretary Melvin O. Faisao.

The land in Koblerville, measuring, 8.4 hectares, will be for NMIFA's exclusive use as they begin a three-phase process of building a state-of-the-art football facility that will have bleachers, house two adult-size pitches, at least two youth-size fields, two futsal facilities, locker and shower rooms, and a building that will house the association's office and training center.

DCCA will be the custodian of the land as NMIFA and the government prepares a three-phase process of building the facility. “Football is becoming very popular on Saipan and we are excited about it. The government will do whatever it can to help in the construction of the [Koblerville football complex],” said Fitial.

“I met with [East Asian Football Federation] officials when they came to Saipan a few years ago and the interest is high to support us in football development.”

Fitial said China, Japan, and Korea represent the backbone of EAFF and a modern football facility in the CNMI would attract foreign teams to practice on Saipan. “It will attract international competition and it will enhance our economy.”

Tan said NMIFA will be working on a 10-year plan where their first thing to do is to raise $500,000 to begin the first phase of their three-phase plan. “We [NMIFA] will have to finalize with the EAFF of how we can get funding. We will immediately layout the groundwork.”

He said that phase one alone could take them from 18 to 24 months to finish. “Our next move is to put into action of the development of the property. We would begin with phase one immediately and once the groundwork is complete we will begin with phase two. It is a10-year master plan.

Tan said NMIFA will work closely with the Guam Football Association in the design of the Koblerville facility and consult them on what would be their next step.

NMIFA, in a letter to Fitial, requested the land proposing it would transform it to a modern football practice and game facility.

Fitial said his administration is supporting programs that would benefit the community. “Especially sports programs that will promote the health and well being of our people.”

He said that having the facility on island will make the CNMI attractive to other sports organizations that may need a training venue for their athletes or a facility for competitive games from the commonwealth's neighbors in the Asia-Pacific.

“As part of our commitment, the government will contribute $500,000 to NMIFA in support of the program envisioned by the association to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed Koblerville [Football] Stadium provided NMIFA will equally match the government's commitment towards this project.”

NMIFA in the News

The women are looking for some players:

Saipan Tribune, Monday, July 23, 2007

Women's national team needs new members
By Jon Perez
Reporter

The CNMI National Women’s Football Team is looking for additional members that would complete their roster in time for next month's tune-up games against off-island teams.

Co-captains Morgan Rose and Brenda Schultz is calling on all interested female players to join in an eight-day tryout, which started last Saturday at the Commonwealth Ports Authority Field.

Schultz and Rose are forming a Women's All-Star team to play in a tune-up match between local and off-island men's teams on Aug. 4 and 5.

A men's 35-and-over team from Hong Kong will be arriving on Aug. 3 to play several goodwill matches against local squads.

The CNMI All-Stars co-captains of the women's team wanted to take this opportunity to hone their skills by going up against the Hong Kong squad.

Nationality and age will not be a factor for selection and the co-captains only need for those who wish to try out is being fearless and their dedication.

Only six slots are left in the All-Star women's squad. The practice/training sessions, which started at 8am on Saturday, will be held at the Airport Field.

The schedule of the tryouts from Sunday to Thursday is 5pm, while sessions start at 8am every Saturday. The tryout will run from July 21 to 24, July 28 to 30, and Aug. 2.

Early this year, the CNMI women's team played against the Guam National Women’s squad in the inaugural Marianas Cup, which served as a preparation of the Guam women’s for the East Asian Football Federation Women’s Championship.

The CNMI has also met the Guam women’s team in several friendly tournaments.
The Northern Mariana Island Football Association credits Marcos Alonso for starting the women’s program. NMIFA has twice organized a Women's League, which is one of their programs of promoting the sport in the CNMI.

NMIFA also organizes the men's, youth, and co-ed leagues.

NMIFA in the News

This was in the Saipan Tribune today:

Korea-Bangladesh tiff to kick off men's football league
By Jon Perez
Reporter

It will be Korea versus Bangladesh in the opener of the Men's Summer Open League Tapochao Derby, which kicks off its hostilities on Sunday at the Oleai Football Field inside the Susupe Sports Complex.

The Korean Football Association will face the Bangladeshi Sports Club in the 2:30pm first game followed by the 4:30pm match between Fiesta Inter and Pacific Telecom Inc.

All games will be held at the Oleai Sports Complex unless there is a sudden change of venue, which the organizers will notify the competing teams before the scheduled date of their match.

Two games will be played every Sunday with one team earning a bye. Standings will be kept where each team earns points based on the number of goals and their wins.

An intra-island derby between the top two teams after the season will be held to determine the champion of the season. Schedule of all matches are pending at this time but games will run from July 22 to mid September.

The Independents, the fifth team in the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association-organized league, will be on a bye and will play against PTI on July 29.

The KFA will open up the July 29 games when they take on Fiesta Inter at 2:30pm.

The league format will have each team earning three points for every win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss.

In an event that two teams have the same number of points after the regular season, organizers will follow four ways of breaking the tie for the Tapochao derby.

NMIFA director Vince Stravino said they will break the tie based on goal differential for the whole season, total goals for the season, head to head outcome, and through a coin toss.

The league was originally scheduled to open on July 15, but organizers decided to reschedule the opening to give teams more time to prepare and complete their respective rosters.

The registration fee for players is $20 and each player is also required to provide their own shin guards for the games.

Stravino added players are also required to obtain photo identification from Quick Print along Middle Road in Garapan after they register. The cost of the photo identification is $5 and the identification card is a requirement for a player to participate in the game.

This will be the second men's soccer league after NMIFA opened the inaugural competition in November last year. A total of eight teams competed in the inaugural men's league where L&S Kyung/Seung defeated Real Mariana in the finals of the Marcos Alonso Cup.

After the league opening on Sunday, there will only be one more schedule, on July 29, before the games take a brief break to give way to tune-up matches against masters 35-and-up teams from Guam and Hong Kong.

The off-island teams will be on Saipan on Aug. 4 and 5 and will play against several local teams on island. The matches will not count in the standings for the Tapochao Derby and games will be held at the Oleai and Airport fields.

The final schedule, with the times, and format for the two-day tune-up games will be announced in a later date.

For more information, email Stravino at nmifa@yahoo.com.

NMIFA in the News

Saipan Tribune, Sunday, July 15, 2007

NMIFA keeps interest in soccer going
By Jon Perez
Reporter

The Northern Mariana Islands Football Association kept the interest of football going especially to its new players by opening a Co-ed Recreational League last Tuesday at the Airport Field.

NMIFA director Vince Stravino said they opened the co-ed recreational league to generate interest in the sport and to attract more new players for the upcoming leagues.

Stravino said the co-ed league attracted a lot of new players that joined the veterans in the four competing teams, namely: the Fiesta Pirates, the Wild Bill's, Pika Raiders, and Guns 'N Roses.

Stravino said the league was conceptualized to give the players a venue to practice their skills and for them to have something to do after work. “It also gives the new players the chance to learn the game and at the same time play against veteran players who already knew the game.”

Stravino said they will not keep track of the scores and standings of each game. “This league is only created to let the players have fun playing.”

Stravino added that next month, two 35-and-over teams from Hong Kong and Macau are going to visit Saipan and play against local teams. The teams are due to arrive on Saipan on Aug. 4.

A new football coach is also due to arrive late this year who will work with the youth, women's, and men's teams for one year.

NMIFA is also set to open the Summer Men's Open League on July 22. The league was originally scheduled to open on July 15 but organizers decided to postpone the start to give teams more time to prepare for the upcoming season.

The NMIFA held the inaugural Marcos Alonso Cup in February where eight teams competed. The season opened in November last year.

The Inaugural Marcos Alonso Cup ended its season in February with L&S Kyune/Seung defeating Real Mariana in the finals. The league was named in honor of former CNMI coach Marcos Alonso, who moved back to Argentina late last year.

The competing teams in the summer league are squads from the Korean Football Association, the Bangladeshi community, the traditionally strong Inter squad, Team Independent, and a newly formed team composed of internationals from the previous PTI team.

Two games will be played every Sunday with one team earning a bye. The standings will be kept where each team earns points based on the number of goals and their wins.

An intra-island derby between the top two teams after the season will be held to determine the champion of the season. Schedule of all matches are pending at this time but games will run from July 22 to mid September.

The registration fee for players is $20 and each player is also required to provide their own shin guards for the games.

Stravino added players are also required to obtain photo identification from Quick Print at Middle Road in Garapan after they register. The cost of the photo identification is $5 and the identification card is a requirement for a player to participate in the game.

Interested teams, players, or volunteering as a referee or official can contact Stravino at nmifa@yahoo.com for more information.