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Youth strikers show improved skills in festival
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Posted on Nov 20 2011
Over 200 players participated in the 2011 NMIFA Youth Football Fall Festival and showcased their finer skills at the Koblerville Elementary School Field last Saturday.
The festival featured U8 and U10 teams of five clubs—Paire FC, Shirley’s FC, Tan Holdings FC, Matansa, and MP United. Each squad played three games with every match lasting for 20 minutes. Results were not officially tabulated and no particular team was chosen as the best, as the U8 and U10 divisions aimed to promote friendly matches. However, youth strikers played as if trophies and bragging rights were at stake in the festival, hustling for defense under the searing heat and celebrating every goal scored.
“We had more players playing in this fall festival than last year and what’s more encouraging was a lot of them showed improvement,” NMIFA general secretary Ed Salas said in an interview with Saipan Tribune.
Festival competition commissioner Jersh Angeles echoed Salas’ observation.
“We were supposed to have only friend games, but when you looked at the pitch, you could see these young players showing moves which can be seen in regular matches. They really improved,” Angeles said.
Paire’s Jaime Saiki said coaches and the players’ parents played an important role in the improvement of the youth league strikers.
“Parents were always there to bring their kids to practices and games and coaches spend a lot of time and patience in teaching these young players the basic of the football. Parents support is really important,” said Saiki, who saw an increase in membership for Paire this season.
“We have 24 players in the U8, 22 in the U10, and 16 in the U6. We keep growing every year so right now we’re thinking of having an own field so we can continue the club’s development program,” said Saike.
Paire practices at San Vicente Elementary School Field and play at Dandan Elementary School.
