Report says 50,000 condoms available for 13th Pacific Games

By Nazario Rodriquez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Online news report had it that the host nation for the 13th Pacific Games ordered some 50,000 condoms to be available during the 15-day event from Aug. 25-Sept. 8.

New Zealand’s Pacific Radio News last week reported that the number one doctor in Samoa was urging thjose who are heading to the Games to make their best performance on the track and field and not in their hotel rooms.

Pacific Radio News quoted Dr. Stanley Dean that there’s been a preoccupation with sex at these Games and that he wants to remind athletes and officials that the occasion is about sports not sex.

An estimated 5,000 athletes are now billeted in the Games’ village and other temporary shelters during the duration of the multi-sports gathering of 22 Pacific Island nations.

Palau sent some 100 athletes, coaches and officials to the Games.

A few days before their departure from Palau, the athletes have been briefed about the medical and health services to be accorded to them during the Games.

Sports officials in Palau did not mention however if the condom issue was part of the medical briefing.

The report said that the condoms would be available at the Safe Games Booth and at bars, nightclubs, restaurants and hotels as well as the National Hospital and at the Samoa AIDS Foundation.

"Sex at the Games became an issue after a leaked memo banning gay athletes and fafafine from engaging in sexual activity at the Village Compound caused a furor," the report said.

Accordingly, the memo was later withdrawn with host nation officials reiterating they didn't endorse the discrimination of fafafine.

"HiV and Aids workers have since pushed on with an awareness campaign for safe sex at the Games, saying it's impossible to ban it with all that male testosterone and female pheromones coming together over two weeks," Pacific Radio News said.

Fafafine= bakala

Don't mean to dwarf Taya's glory, but this article is hilarious!

Taya Talent 9, Wild Bill's 0

Taya Talent found thier talent.

Last night Taya Talent took Wild Bill's to the cleaners.

Wild Bill's not so wild in final game of NMIFA Coed League.

Is that enough, or should I keep on going?

I don't know how it happened, but Taya Talent came together last night for one of the greatest exhibitions of soccer the island of Saipan has ever seen. The Wild Bill's team looked like a bunch of drunken midget pirates; they couldn't do anything to stop us.

Angelo Villagomez found the back of the net 9 times, scoring four times off of corner kicks from Chris Nelson.

******

It was a fun 8 week season, Everybody! I can't wait for the next one.

******

The Pirates won their final game against the Pika Raiders 2-1.

You are all invited!

The Saipan All Star Women will play friendly games with the Guam women this weekend at the Ada pitch.

Saturday Morning at 10:30 (35 minute halves)
Saturday Afternoon at 4:00 (45 minute halves)
and
Sunday Morning at 10:30 (35 minute halves)

This should be a fun and friendly set of games with our sisters from Guam who have helped us come so far. The last time they came out was the summer of 2006. Come join us!

Post Game Celebration at Porky's...but no smoking, please

The NMIFA Coed League's last game is this Wednesday night. In celebration, everyone, bloggers, soccer players, soccer fans, soccer moms, midget pirates, and even Harry Blalock are inviting to smokefree, end of season celebration at Porky's restaurant in Garapan.

Wednesday nights at Porky's are smokefree, so you'll be able to breathe easy.

Beautify CNMI Mailing List

Are you on the Beautify CNMI mailing list?

Every Monday morning I send out a summary of the weekend's activites. On Thursdays I send out the upcoming weekend's activities. If there is a meeting on a particular day, I send out a meeting reminder.

If you are not on the list and you would like to be, please email Angelo at angelovillagomez at gmail dot com.

Here is my update from this morning:

Good Monday Morning,

We had several successful events over the weekend.

On Friday, we announced the winners of the Photo Contest to raise awareness of the Micronesia Challenge and over 30 people participated in a public forum discussing Marine Protected Areas and Coral Reefs. On Saturday, the members of the Student Action for a Viable Environment clubs cleaned up the beach in Chalan Kanoa and one of the pocket beaches in Dandan. On Sunday, Friends of the Mariana Islands cleaned up Dandan Road. The Lion's Club was also out this weekend cleaning up their adopted spot along Beach Road (sorry, I forgot if that was Saturday or Sunday).

There will be a Parks & Trails meeting this Thursday at 1 PM. The meeting is in the USDA Conference Room, on the first floor of the DY Buidling in Garapan on Beach Road. If you have questions, please contact Ken Kramer, RC&D Coordinator, at 236-0893.

This Saturday we should be planting the last of our Flame Trees...I just don't know where yet.

This Sunday we will be in the Garapan Tourist District. Our cleanup meets at the AMP Parking lot and begins at 8 AM.

Have a great week!

Angelo

I didn't delete you

I cut the number of goal leaders displayed down to the top 5. If you are not in the top 5, you will not be displayed. If you want to be in the top 5, score more goals.

After the seasons end, I will only display the top 3.

...because this is my Unofficial Blog and I can do whatever I want, so there.

:)

FIESTA INTER GOES UNBEATEN; FC ARIRANG MOVES INTO SECOND PLACE

Top of the table leaders, Fiesta Inter, finished their Northern Mariana Islands Football Association Summer Men's League season by routing the Bangladeshi Sports Club, 6 to 1, Sunday afternoon at Oleai Sports Complex. In the second match, FC Arirang made a strong move to join Fiesta Inter in the Championship match by besting an improved Wild Bill's squad, 3 to 2.

Led by three goals from Masatoshi Otsuka and a pair from Peter Houk, Fiesta
Inter completed an unbeaten regular season. Arkie Reusora had the final tally for Fiesta. Jahangir Hossein found the net for BSC.

With the win, Fiesta Inter becomes the first team to book a place in the Tapachao Derby Championship Match Sunday September 9th at 430pm at Oleai Sports Complex.

In the second match, FC Arirang got past Wild Bill's, 3 to 2, needing two late scores to move into sole possession of second place in the standings. They will round out the championship match pairing with a tie or win in their final match next weekend.

After FC Arirang opened the scoring with a goal by Sun Sik Jang at the 22' mark, Ben Wood of Wild Bill's tied the score, 1 to 1, before halftime. Jetsada Phonsutjit put Wild Bill's ahead with a score at the 61' and Wild Bill's was poised for the upset of the veteran Korean club.

FC Arirang came back in the final minutes with a superb header finish by Choi Yoon Won and the winner by Kim Min Ki with only two minutes remaining to secure the victory.

Next week's match will be on Sunday September 2nd at Oleai Sports Complex with BSC and Wild Bill's playing at 2:30 PM and FC Arirang taking on PTI at 4:30 PM. This will complete the regular season.

The championship matches will be Sunday September 9th with the 3rd and 4th place squads squaring off at 2:30 PM and the Tapachao Derby Championship Match featuring the undefeated Fiesta Inter and the second place club at 4:30 PM. These matches will be at Oleai Sports Complex.

An Emotional Series of Men's games today.

Spirits ran high in the men's tournament today! The Drama of Football was in full effect at the Ada Pitch. This picture about sums it up....actually if there was a yellow card being distributed to a player throwing a temper tantrum in the background (rather than Yosh putting his arm around Masa) then it would sum up today...

I know it's a bit redundant since I already posted it on my blog but this really is a great picture. And yes, that is duct tape on his head and blood on his shirt.

Pika Raiders 2, Taya Talent 0

Emotions were flying high in this game, particularly among the men from both teams.
In the words of the women from team Fiesta Fuerza, "You have to want it to win!"-- and both teams wanted it bad. After several shots on goal, many of which were inches from the goal line, Pika and Taya went into the second half 0-0.

Patty Coleman hit a well-timed, in-the-air pass from rookie player Sean in the net. Taya's goalie, Pete, caught some of the ball, but because of too much spin, the ball found the back of the net. Despite Taya's demolition doctor duo defense (David Khorram and Daniel Lamar), minutes later Morgan Rose hit in a right-footed blast that floated safely in goal.

Next week, it's Taya vs. Wild Bill's and Pika vs. Pirates. Go co-ed league!

19 Named to NMI Women's All-Stars

By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

NMI soccer coach Jason Higgins has named the commonwealth’s Women’s All-Star Team that will compete against Guam in an exhibition match on Labor Day here.

Making the team were Nikki Gabaldon, Divya Sharma, Zoe Jewell, Madison Smith, Becca Newman, Roxie Lamar, Allison Livingston, Lindsay Davis, Emily Gries, Tomoko Kawakata, Nicole LeBlanc, Patty Coleman, Francine Sablan, D’Lonsool, Jenny Linden, Erica Olopai, Morgan Rose, Brenda Schultz and Ashley Hofschneider. One more player will be named to the team later.

Higgins held tryouts for the NMI Women’s All-Stars last Thursday and Friday at the CPA Field and liked what he saw during the trials.

“I’m happy with the turnout of the tryouts and I am especially please that some high school students showed up. Two high school girls made the team and I look forward to working with them in the next two weeks,” Higgins said.

Smith and Jewell of Saipan International School were the two high school students who made the team.

“The team needs a lot of polishing, but there is some raw talent. They need to work on basic skills and that is one of my main focuses, as well as individual and team defense. Their best attribute though is their willingness to learn,” Higgins said.
“I want to have a team that is willing to try and play a skillful style of football and also display solid defending characteristics,” he added.

The NMI female strikers will challenge the Guam team which is composed of several members of its national team and players from other soccer clubs on Saipan’s neighboring island.

This will be the second time that the NMI will be facing Guam female strikers.
In April this year, the NMI Women’s National Team collided with Guam’s National Squad in the inaugural Marianas Football Cup at the GFA Complex and Training Facility Field in Harmon.

The host shut out the NMI bets, 9-0.

Zoe is in junior high. Madison, Erica, and Ashley are high school students. Go All-Stars!

Dates for Men's National Team Tryouts Announced

Do you want to be the next Brad Ruszala?

Tryouts for the next Men's National Team will start on September 17 and will continue for two weeks. All tryouts will be held at the CPA Airport Field.

Tryouts will be six days long, on September 17, 20, 21, 24, 27, and 28 from 5-7 PM.

Dread Pirates 2, Wild Bill's 1

The Pirates and Wild Bill's fought through a terrential rain storm to determine the winner of this game. They entered the second half in 0-0 draw.

Wild Bill's Steve McKagan scored first, but the Pirates answered back within minutes, with Bruce Berline (of all people) scoring on a header and Masa scoring on a free kick.

The Pirates are pretty much assured first place now, unless the Pika Raiders can manage to defeat them next week.

Three way tie for second place

Half way through the NMIFA Summer Men's League, Fiesta Inter has a commanding lead against all the other teams with a 3-0 record.

Bastards.

(Just kidding. We all love you, Dale.)

Wild Bill's, FC Arirang, and the Bangladeshi Sports Club all have a 1-1 record, while PTI is in last place with a 0-3 record.

Next week's games should be interesting. Fiesta Inter will play their final game of the season against the Bangladeshi Sports Club (they have a bye in the final week) and Wild Bill's will play FC Arirang (unless BSC defeats Fiesta Inter, this game will probably determine second place).

BSC defeated Fiesta Inter in the final game of the Saipan Scramble tournament two weeks ago and Wild Bill's tied FC Arirang when they faced each other during last week's Korean Association Football Tournament.

FIESTA INTER REMAINS UNBEATEN; BSC NABS FIRST WIN

The summer slate of games resumed for the Northern Mariana Football Association Men's League on Sunday with two matches at Oleai Sports Complex. Fiesta Inter cruised to their thrid straight win as they took out Wild Bill's, 3 to 0. The Bangladeshi Sports Club won the other contest with a 4 to 1 victory against PTI.

Arkie Reusora started the scoring for Fiesta Inter with a goal in the 22'. Fiesta added two more scores after the break with Koichiro Nakamura finding the back of the net from long range at 48' and Masatoshi Otsuka completing a penalty kick at the 80' mark to wrap up the scoring. MD "Mafi" Islam anchored the goalkeeping duties for Fiesta with another strong game.

Fiesta Inter sits alone at the top of the standing with nine points in their bid for the Tapachao Cup. A draw next week will ensure Fiesta Inter a place in the Championship game on September 9th.

The Bangladeshi Sports Club got their first win in the regular season with a 4 to 1 win against PTI. Leading the scoring for BSC was Jahangir Hossein with two goals. BSC enjoyed additional tallies from Li Yong Lie and Li Dong Ri.

PTI got their lone goal from Kanghyin Shin at the 55 minute. It was his second score of the season.

FC Arirang, fresh off a triumphant tournament in the Korean Football Association President's Cup last weekend, had a bye.

Next week's matches will display Fiesta Inter against BSC at 2:30 PM and FC Arirang taking on Wild Bill's at 4:30 PM. PTI will be off.

Men's League, Back in Action!

After two weeks of tournaments, the NMIFA Men's League will be back in action tomorrow afternoon. My team, The Independents, take on Fiesta Inter at 2:30 PM and PTI plays the Bangladeshi Sports Club at 4:30 PM.

Come by to cheer us on!

Wild Bill's 2, Pika Raiders 1

The game was tied...until Arkie pulled off a header on a corner kick in the last few minutes of the game! grrrrr! And get this: he completed the header on his knees, eluding several Pika members who were in the box. Brad had his video cam. I'd like to see how the hell Arkie pulled that off.

Yes, friends, it will take me a few days to get over it.

Morgan Rose had a beautiful left-footed shot on goal. The ball was so rocket fast, that WB's keeper had a hard time gripping it. Perhaps the fact that he wasn't wearing gloves proved helpful for Pika. :-) Keep the goals coming ladies!

All in all, it was a fun game.

A great game!

...but we still lost.

I really enjoyed our spanking by the Dread Pirates tonight. I thought it was a well played game, and with the exception of me knocking over Linda...and Mike...and Bruce...and Bruce again...it was a really clean game...well, and there was that time that Peter fouled Jetsada so hard that he had to be carried off the field, but no one really noticed.

The Pirates beat us 4-2. Great job, Pirates!

...and I'm glad we don't have to play you anymore.

P.S. Does anyone have the results from last Wednesday's game? Who won and who scored the goals?

P.P.S. Who scored for the pirates today?

Taya Talent 0, Wild Bill's 4

1) Take one basket:

2) Insert Ass:

3) Hand to Brad.

A great weekend of football!

The Bangladeshi Sports Club outlasted and outclassed the field today at the Saipan Scramble Masters Football Tourney at Oleai Sports Complex. The BSC squad downed Fiesta Inter in the Championship match, 1-0, on a lone goal by Saidul Islam.

The mini-tournament was held in connection with the visits of two off-island teams from Guam and Hong Kong. The two teams and their entourages numbered nearly 100 tourists. It was the first time the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association was able to bring in Masters teams for this type of event.

The Bangladeshi Sports Club were able to advance to the final match by besting Po Leung Kuk and PTI in their round robin group. PTI got its first win of the year with a tight 1-0 victory over the Hong Kong squad off a long distance direct kick by Konghyin Shin in the other match in the group play.

In the other bracket, Fiesta Inter was able to nab wins from the Guam Masters FC, 3-0, and from Wild Bill's, 1-0, to advance to the championship. Guam Masters downed Wild Bill's by a single goal, 1-0, in the other group match.

The weekend competition began in the mud on Saturday as the CNMI Women Allstars gave both visiting Master squads all they could handle at the CPA Airport Field before a large crowd. The women fell in both matches, 3-0, but impressed the opponents and crowd with their skill and fitness.

FC Arirang, the local Korean squad, also competed Saturday and drew with the visiting squads. They went scorelss with Po Leung Kuk from Hong Kong and were even with the Guam Masters FC, 1-1.

The NMI FA Men's League resumes play on Sunday August 19th with matches between Fiesta Inter at 230pm and PTI taking on the Bangladeshi Sports Club at 430pm. FC Arirang will have a bye. All matches will take place at Oleai Sports Complex.

The NMI FA Summer Adult Coed League gets back on the pitch Tuesday August 7th with the battle of the pubs as Wild Bill's tangles Porky's Gun's and Roses at 515pm. On Wednesday August 8th, the Pika Raiders will play Fiesta Pirates with a 515pm kickoff. Both matches will be at the CPA Airport Field.

Fun in The Mud!

Great Job Ladies!

The CNMI Women's All Stars Had Fun in The Mud yesterday! The women played well and had fun! Unfortunately we lost both games 3-0 but we learned a lot and took on those men!! We also loved all our fans! Thanks for your support!

Before the game

Posing with the Hong Kong Masters

After...here we are showing our muddier side
Another mud shot!

A huge thank you goes out to Jerry Tan and Vince Stravino! Jerry for the vision to bring the teams out. Vince for organizing this event which is huge! There is so much that goes on behind the scenes that few of us see just to give us the game. Vince is a volunteer with a full time job. It's amazing to me he was able to put this whole tournament on with all of it's details!! Great job Vince! I heard from the visitors that they were very impressed!

Thank you also to the VOLUNTEER referees! You guys did a great job yesterday! We don't always agree with you but we truly appreciate you! We learn more about the game through the calls you make as it ignites discussion (often we find out that we were the wrong ones). Thank you for all your selflessness!

We also enjoyed watching the Korean team play our visitors yesterday! I wish I had pictures to post of that game but I didn't know where the camera was! Sorry!

There will be much more soccer action today at Ada field beginning at 1:00! Come on down and see the local boys play the visitors!

Pika Raiders 1, Taya Talent 0

Last night was a great game!

Patty GOALman scored the games only goal off of a beautiful pass from...somebody on the other team. Doh!

The goal was Patty's second goal of the season, making her the goal leader for the women in the NMIFA Coed League.

There was a game last night

No one is really concerned with who won.

...but Jersh and Arkie both scored goals!

There is another Coed game tonight, when Guns n Roses defeats the Pika Raiders starting at 5:15 PM at the CPA Airport Field.