Football festival a hit

Hopwood Junior High School Field was turned into a big playground yesterday as more than 200 CNMI young strikers played in the 2008 NMIFA Youth Festival of Football.

The second football festival of the year in Northern Mariana Islands Football Association’s calendar for 2008 features games played simultaneously in four fields.

Participants in the U6 and U8 divisions played at the smaller fields, while strikers in the U12, U10, and U15 divisions put on a show at the two center fields.

Participants came from the four clubs on Saipan, namely the Independent FC, Matansa FC, MP United FC, and Paire FC.

U16 divisions had five games featuring United’s White and Blue teams, Matansa, IFC Orange, and Paire Red.

Competing in the U8 were IFC Orange, Paire Red, United Blue, Paire Black, United White, and Matansa.

The U10 division had the most teams with seven. The list include the United Blue and White, Paire Black and Red, Matansa, and IFC Orange and Green.

The four clubs had only one team apiece playing in the U12 division, while only Matansa, Paire and United were represented in the U15 division.

NMIFA president Jerry Tan was in Hopwood to watch some of the games and was ecstatic with the big turnout in the festival.

“There were more players this time than the first festival held early this year. Thanks to the organizing committee and the parents who allowed their kids to join the sport of football,” Tan said.

Greg Borja was the chairman of organizing committee of the the football festival

Tan added it was very encouraging to see a lot of kids showing up for the festivities two months after NMIFA was granted membership to the East Asian Football Festival.

“We applied for membership in EAFF to help us promote football among our youth and here we are, getting more kids involved in the No. 1 sport in the world,” Tan said.

Aside from Tan, Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association president Michael White and Public Health Director Richard Brostrom attended the festival and watched some of the games.

White in a brief message to players encouraged them to continue joining football, or any sport, while Brostrom mentioned the benefits from actively participating in sports.

Meanwhile, NMIFA during a brief recognition ceremony awarded plaques of appreciation to former officers who contributed to the success of football in the CNMI.

The list include Vince Stravino, Brenda Schultz, Sue Knecht, and Peter Coleman.

NMIFA also cited the CNMI U14 Team which played in an international tournament last year.

The team was composed of Mickey Coleman, Devin Atalig, Hunter Thorpe, Caleb Arriola, Jaythan Camacho, Crosby Schultz, Bo Barry, Stacy Escueta, jake Lee, Josiah Orlando, Angelo Jones, Andrew Johnson, Misaki Cramer, Hirai Misami, Hunter Jewell, Jehn Joyner, Keoni Borja, and Clay McCullough-Stearns.

Nick Swaim coach the team and was assisted by Brenda Schultz, while Peter Coleman and John Ravell were the team and equipment managers, respectively.