NMIFA In The News

AFC pleased with NMIFA programs

By Jon Perez
Reporter

Asian Football Conference Vision Asia division development officer Biplav Gautam, left, and AFC development officer Keita Sugihara, third left, join Northern Mariana Islands Football Association officials led by president Jerry Tan, fourth left, for a group photo at the NMIFA office at the TSL building on Saturday. Others in photo are Wes Bogdan, second left, and Vicki Izuka. (Jon Perez) The rapid development of football in the CNMI brought smiles to two Asian Football Confederation officials, which were on island this weekend to assess the programs started by the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association.

AFC development officer Kaita Sugihara and AFC Vision Asia Division development officer Biplav Gautam arrived on Saipan last Thursday and spent Friday and Saturday meeting with NMIFA officials to get an update of its football programs.

Sugihara said he and Gautam even visited the training sessions conducted by the men's and women's national teams in preparation for this weekend's Marianas Cup against Guam.

They also witnessed the Youth Football Festival at San Antonio Elementary School and inspected some of the facilities and venues in football games. Sugihara and Gautam visited the three schools used in football games-Hopwood Junior High School, Saipan Southern High School, and Garapan Elementary School-as well as the Oleai Field inside the Susupe Sports Complex, CPA Field, and the one at American Memorial Park.

“A lot has changed since the first time we came here in October 2006. We can see a lot of positive things in NMIFA's programs. We are very much impressed with the development,” said Sugihara.

Gautam added NMIFA's program is centered on developing the sport at the grassroots level and establishing clubs. “NMIFA is geared towards developing the youth with the establishment of clubs, which is essential part of every football program.”

Sugihara and Gautam said from establishing the youth, men's, and women's programs NMIFA is now geared toward strengthening the club system.

“NMIFA and football on Saipan rapidly change in a short time compared to other countries that are starting with their own program,” Sugihara said.

Gautam added, “They [NMIFA] already have four clubs, which have their own committees and active volunteers. Clubs are important to football development.”

The two also met with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and played pickup games with some of the local teams before again meeting with NMIFA officials to further discuss their developmental plans and programs.

Support for CNMI MNT

Support for CNMI MNT continues

Ten days remain before the CNMI men’s national soccer challenges its counterpart from Guam in the 2nd Annual Marianas Cup, and this year’s edition of the Blue Ayuyus received some much needed support along the way from one of Korea’s longtime athletic sponsors.

After hearing of the local team’s efforts on the pitch, Sejoong Tour Mall Saipan Branch/Director Manager, Choi Kyung-Sil, decided to assist the players in advance of their game against Guam by outfitting the men with uniforms and shorts.

Choi said that her company regularly supports soccer teams in Korea and that she had been looking for a way to sponsor one of Saipan’s local teams. When she heard about the CNMI’s up and coming national team, she stopped by one of the practices and was surprised with what she saw.

“I saw the CNMI team wearing old dirty shirts and I wanted to help by donating,” she said.

The donation marked Sejoong Tour Mall’s first donation on Saipan, and Choi picked the bright yellow Team Brazil uniforms for the CNMI “to bring sunshine into their game.”

Team CNMI was appreciative of the donation and the players have regularly donned the new uniforms during team practices. Choi said that she was happy to help and that she and Sejoong Tour Mall look forward to supporting more area soccer teams in the future.

“The same team or another team, no problem,” she said.

Last year, football fans from across the world watched as Team CNMI came within one goal of beating the FIFA ranked Guamanians. The visitors escaped with a 3-2 victory at the Oleai Sports Complex, but the men from Saipan were unable to find similar success a week later, as Guam rebounded with a 9-0 victory on its home field to take the inaugural Marianas Cup.

The second edition of the Marianas Cup takes place at the Oleai Sports Complex on Sunday, April 27, at 3pm, with pre-game activities getting underway at 2:45pm. Attendance is free and organizers invite the community to provide the same crowd support that last year’s team enjoyed.

More Marianas Cup Info

In less than two weeks, the CNMI men’s national soccer team will defend its home pitch in an effort to do what last year’s squad was unable to accomplish by beating Guam on Saipan.

Last year, football fans from across the world watched as the home team came within one goal of beating the FIFA ranked Guamanians, as the visitors escaped with a 3-2 victory at the Oleai Sports Complex. A week later, the men from Saipan were unable to find similar success against their heavily favored opponents abroad, as Guam dismantled the CNMI at home, 9-0, in the rematch.

Aside from pleasing their fan faithful at Harmon Field, the Guamanians also drew first blood in the inaugural Marianas Cup. This month’s match will mark the second time the regional rivals vie for the giant perpetual trophy, and several new faces will don the home team’s uniforms on Sunday, April 27, at the OSC.

Team CNMI will be without 11 of players that filled out its roster in 2007, as Bruce Berline, Vince Stravino, Wesley Bogdan, Mike Hall, Aaron Lewis, Chris Nelson, Mark McDonald, Kyle Cabael, Jonathan Mafnas, Tyce Mister and former captain Yosh Gabaldon have either opted out of the grueling national schedule or will be unavailable for this month’s match.

The CNMI still has a core of players who remember the bitter pill that Guam served up on Harmon Field, as Ben Wood, Dale Roberts, Michael Thomas, Brad Ruszala, Lucas Knecht, David Dueñas, Chris Leon Guerrero, Peter Houk, and Angelo Villagomez return to the Blue Ayuyus with manager John Ravell.

Filling the vacancies left by last year’s history makers was no easy task, but a crowd new faces survived the training and evaluation process, and is now ready to officially don the blue and white for the first time. Among the rookies added to the 2008 line-up are Peter Loken, Steve McKagan, Dan Westphal, Joe Miller, Choi Yong Woon, Norman Camacho, and Nick Swaim.

Change has been the theme to this year’s team, as Team CNMI made changes at the top with the departure of last year’s coach, Jeff “Ziggy” Korytoski, who has since moved back to the mainland. His replacement, Jason Higgins, will also miss match, as he and the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association quietly parted ways two months ago.

Since then, Swaim has taken the reigns as player/coach for the local squad, and NMIFA officials regard the former Pacific Islands Club Clubmate as a magnificent find who possesses the talent to direct his teammates both on and off the field.

Adding to his already full plate, Swaim is also coaching the CNMI Women’s National Team as well as the U14 squad. The women will compete against their counterparts from Guam on Saturday, April 26, at the Oleai Sports Complex. As with the men’s contest, the match between the CNMI and Guam will serve as the 2nd Annual Marianas Cup between the women.

Last year, the CNMI women journeyed south to the southernmost link in the Marianas Islands chain as underdogs, and fell to Guam, 7-0. Despite suffering a lopsided defeat on the scoreboard, the injury riddled CNMI Women displayed their character by holding off their opponents for a majority of the first half.

Both matches in the second edition of the Marianas Cup take place at 3pm with pre-game activities getting underway at 2:45pm. Attendance is free and organizers invite the community to provide the same crowd support that last year’s team enjoyed.

Be There!

Big Props to Norman Del Rosario for his creative genius! See you at the pitch. By the way, t-shirts will also be available. More on the designs later. Also, be sure to pick up the paper tomorrow to find out more about the matches.

Rowdy Fans?

CNMI Women's National Team Blog

http://cnmiwnt.blogspot.com/

Countdown to the Marianas Cup.

Game of the Week

Wild Bill's Independants takes on the Arirang Football Club tomorrow at 4 PM.

Should be a good game.