Saipan Soccer School opens

The Saipan Soccer School opened on Saturday with no less than officials from Chelsea FC Soccer School (Hong Kong) gracing the inauguration ceremony at the TSL Sports Complex.

“This is a great facility, as players can practice day and night, rain or shine. It’s a great way to teach beginners the basic of the sport and from there coaches will slowly develop good players,” Chelsea FC Soccer School (Hong Kong) technical director Luam Khen Koo said.

Joining Koo in the opening rites were fellow Chelsea FC Soccer School (Hong Kong) technical director Leslie George Santos and head coach Kwon On “David” Tsui, Chelsea FC Soccer School part-owner Raymond Tan, Tan Holdings board chair Tan Siu Lin, Tan Holdings president Jerry Tan, Saipan Mayor Donald Flores, Barrigada Mayor Jesie Palican, Rep. Edmund Villagomez, NMASA president Michael White, and officials from the various football clubs on Saipan and their players and coaches.

Jerry Tan said he hopes Saipan Soccer School will help provide a development program for CNMI football and promote an active lifestyle throughout the community.

For his part, Raymond Tan encouraged not only youth players, but also adults to utilize the facility and learn football. He said it is never too late to play football, as long as you have the interest in the sport and facilities and technical expertise are available.

He added that Chelsea FC will continue to work with the Saipan Soccer School to help its development program and he wishes someday that Saipan players will go to Hong Kong and play against Chelsea FC strikers.

Before the opening of the Saipan Soccer School, the Chelsea FC officials conducted a series of clinics to players and coaches and now that the school has opened, Santos hopes they can return here to continue providing technical knowledge to the CNMI football community.
“We hope we can visit Saipan again, maybe come back here every year and hold a longer session with coaches and players. We had a great time here and we love to help players and coaches develop their skills. You can start improving your skills by joining the Saipan Soccer School,” Santos said.

Free summer camp

Meanwhile, the Saipan Soccer School has a free summer camp, which started yesterday.

The camp will run until Aug. 5 and will be for co-ed players in the U8 to U10 age groups.

There will be two sessions from Monday to Friday with the first one set for 8am to 10am and the second one from 10am to 12pm. Only 20 players are allowed per session.

Tan Holdings women’s team head coach Jershwin Angeles and Shirley’s FC women’s head coach Ruselle Zapanta are the camp directors.

Registration is on going. For more information, call 235-8747, extension 148 and look for Angie Ito.