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Tinian students, players participate in 3-day football clinic
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- Nii Ayi speaks to elementary and middle school students on Tinian during a three-day clinic last week. (Thomas Manglona II)
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- Nii Ayi poses for a photo with Tinian elementary school students who took part in his three-day football clinic. (Thomas Manglona II)
Ayi, a sports scientist and licensed coach, hosted classroom interactions with local coaches and students at a Tinian private school. More than 50 members of the Tinian Premier Football Club also participated in the clinic last week.
“I had classroom interaction with one of the private schools on Tinian to introduce some of them to football,” he told Saipan Tribune. “It was a great time with the kids and some were able to touch and kick a ball for the first time in their lives.”
The three-day soccer clinic, in coordination with the Tinian Premier Football Club, also had participants from the island’s public schools with Ayi interacting with elementary and middle school children.
“I was amazed with how the kids responded and cooperated with me,” he said. Ayi added that although the purpose of his trip is to teach soccer, what he hopes to also instill in the youth he works with is “fun, joy, and love for the sport”.
He described the skill of the young athletes as “impressive”. The soccer pro also held a classroom discussion with local coaches to guide them on how to plan and organize their training sessions. The lecture also included information about the organization in tactical training for goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and strikers.
“It was really an amazing and great experience with the Tinian Premier Football Club kids and their coaches,” he said.
The soccer pro hopes that the CNMI and Guam football associations extend a helping hand to the TPFC as it lacks training outfits and sports equipment. Ayi pointed out that the TPFC is a non-governmental organization and is run volunteer coaches Philip and Arley Long.
“They are really doing all they can to help keep the kids out of trouble and off the streets and encourage them to play a beautiful game,” he said.
