Volunteers clean up Oleai Sports Complex

Volunteers are joining hands to make the clearing works at the Oleai Sports Complex faster.

Tristan Rogolifoi, the grandson of Northern Marianas Sports Association executive direc-tor Tony Rogolifoi, was the youngest among the volunteers, helping his grandfather clean the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium and the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field, which sustained damage after typhoon Soudelor struck Saipan on Aug. 2.

“I am helping out my grandpa so I can make his work easier and faster,” the 9-year-old Koblerville resident said.

Tony has been leading the clearing operations at the sports complex since early last week and had to draw help from his relatives after his two staff—Elias Rangamar and Greg Iginoef—had to attend to their families affected by the typhoon. Rangamar and Iginoef’s homes sustained damage from Soudelor.

With his staff out, Rogolifoi needed the extra hands of his family members—T.J. and C.J. Rogolifoi, Nak Nakashima, and Martin Omelau. The boys helped out in drying the floor of the Ada Gym yesterday and also did some work at the Tan Ko pitch.

“I am very thankful to these boys for working with me for almost all day since last week,” said Rogolifoi.

Outside the field, Northern Mariana Islands Football Association president Jerry Tan led more than 20 volunteers in clearing fallen tree branches and trunks at the parking lot. Saipan Soccer School staff, CNMI U14, U15, U18, and women’s national pool players, and Shirley’s Coffee Shop employees joined Tan in the clean-up drive yesterday, while some individuals from the same groups cleared the track oval last Monday.

“During any crisis, it is important that everyone come together as a community because the government has limited resources. It is crucial that private citizens stepped up and volunteer. The collective effort from the government and the private sector will make our recovery from the typhoon faster,” Tan said.

“The kids are still out of school, so I am proud and happy that they come out and help our community recover from these trying times,” he added.

Angie Ito, who manages one of the soccer teams, said it is just right to help clean the facility (track pitch) that has been helping them with their training.

“It’s time to give back to the facility that has been very good to us and welcoming. We’ve been using the track for years, so we have to help clean it after the disaster that hit us,” Ito said, adding that some of the players resumed training sessions at the pitch after cleaning job was done last Monday.

Meanwhile, Tan hopes the group’s move will inspire other people to help out the community in any way possible.

Tony and NMSA secretary general Rose Igitol echoed Tan’s sentiments, encouraging members of the CNMI sports community to lend a hand in cleaning the sports complex.

“Thank you very much to Jerry Tan and his players and staff for the initiative. I hope other federations will follow his example as lots of work are left be done at the complex,” Igitol said.

“We’re calling on the Little League people and the basketball community. If they want to help out clean the facility, they are very much welcome to come here and assist us,” the elder Rogolifoi said.