Previous Story
18 named to EAFF-bound CNMI team
Eighteen players made the final cut for the CNMI U13 National Team that will participate in the East Asian Football Federation Boys U13 Festival 2015 in Guam next month.
Thaiphi Austria, right, and Sebastien Manabat, are among the 18 players selected to suit up for the CNMI U13 National Team that will participate in the East Asian Football Federation Boys U13 Festival 2015 in Guam next month. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Goalkeepers Floyd Muna and Jason Quimzon led the elite list and will be joined on the team by defenders Eun Syu Hahn, Kirt Andon, Lolobeyong Benito, and Ian Maniago, midfielders Mark Esalan, Thaiphi Austria, Sebastien Manabat, Kirro Batino, Raseff Altamirano, Angelo Bergancia, Justin Achas, and Johoey Noble, and forwards John Michale Rojas, Edward Cho, Kaden Church, and Taka Borja. Jershwin Angeles is the squad’s head coach and will be assisted by Chelsea FC Soccer School Hong Kong’s Takemoto Suzuki.
“It is with great pleasure to announce the selection of the young boys who will be representing the NMI in the EAFF U13 Boys Football Festival that will be held in Guam from Nov. 7 to 11. Let us all congratulate these players,” NMIFA said in a statement sent to officials of various clubs where the players came from.
The Teen Ayuyus will be playing in the EAFF youth festival from Nov. 8 to 10 and they will leave Saipan for Guam on Nov. 7. In Guam, the CNMI bets will be facing teams from the host, North Korea, Chinese-Taipei, and Hong Kong. The festival will follow an 11-aside format with each game having two 30-minute halves. A special team event will also take place in the afternoon at the completion of the festival matches.
The 18 players were selected from the nearly 50 individuals who joined the series of tryouts for the squad starting early this month. The pool was then initially cut into half and those who made the grade continued training under Angeles for more than two weeks before the final selection was decided last Friday.
The selected players now have nine training days left (excluding yesterday’s) before leaving for Guam and practice sessions will also include playing scrimmages against the CNMI Women’s National Team and the Commonwealth’s boys U14 squad.
“As the tournament approaches, the players will continue training to enhance their individual skills and improve playing as a team. Thus, we ask the support of club officials and parents by allowing these players to possibly attend all training sessions from Oct. 26 to Nov. 6. To prevent injuries prior to departure, please also ask club coaches to caution the players about unnecessary roughness during league matches,” NMIFA added in a statement released to club officials and coaches.
