CNMI Women’s All-Stars continue training in HK

The first batch of the CNMI Women’s All-Star Team left for Hong Kong last Monday and will continue their training there in preparation for next month’s 2015 Luen Thai Cup.

The CNMI Women’s All-Star Team’s Alexandria Vergara, left, and a member of the U14 training pool chase the ball down the sideline during a scrimmage last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The group is led by goalies Chevy Kate Alipio and Carla Ballesteros. Guinevere Borja, Lyka Sally, siblings Jeralyn and Jeraldine Castillo, Dianne Pablo, and Renita Fleming also joined the trip, while Mae Ito, Alexandria Vergara, Angelica Mia Carreon, Chloe Salvosa, De Jana Muna, Diana Maniacop, Elaine Enriquez, Jennifer Perena, Krizel Tuazon, Sara Allen, and Lalaine Pagarao remain on Saipan and will leave on July 6.

The initial group was expected to start its training session at the Chelsea FC Soccer School (Hong Kong) facility yesterday, while the remaining players of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association-backed squad will continue their workout with head coach Luam Khen Koo and his assistant Jimmy Tang at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.

Practice sessions are being held five times a week and on some days, the selected group is training in the morning and afternoon to drum up its preparation for the Luen Thai Cup, which will run from July 7 to 9. The group also had scrimmages with the CNMI U14 Boys National training pool at the Oleai pitch last Wednesday and Saturday.

In the Saturday scrimmage, the CNMI Women’s All-Star Team got some tough love from Koo, as he pressed the group to intensify its defense against the much younger and faster U14 pool. Koo also pointed out plays while officiating the scrimmage and let some of his players switched positions to test their adaptability to changes.

“It’s not yet Christmas so do not give them gifts (goals). We have to work on our defense together and fight for every possession. Go after the ball and don’t wait for the ball to come to you,” Koo said during a huddle at the end of the first half of the scrimmage.

Koo and Tang are working on the group’s defense double time, as the CNMI Women’s All-Star Team will be up against three high-caliber squads in Hong Kong. The Commonwealth bets will be playing against Singapore National Women’s A Team, South China Agricultural University Women’s Football Club, and a selection from Chelsea FC Soccer School (Hong Kong).

The four teams will be competing in a round-robin format with the top finisher winning the Cup. The 2015 Luen Thai Cup will be held in celebration of Luen Thai’s 50th anniversary.

Meanwhile, the second batch of players from the CNMI Women’s All-Star Team will also have a chance to train in Hong Kong as they will stay in the former British colony for several days after the tournament concludes.