AFC-bound CNMI U15 Team named

Nineteen players were named to the CNMI Boys U15 National Team that will compete in the AFC U16 Championship 2018 Qualifiers in Thailand this month.

Head coach and Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director Michiteru Mita said the list of players who will don the colors of the Commonwealth to the Asian Football Confederation-sanctioned tournament includes midfielders Razeff Altamirano, Taka Borja, John Guiller Canape, Mark Esalan, Sebastien Manabat, Ian Maniago, Joshua Mendez, and John Michael Rojas; defenders Joseph Rasa, Rinto Takahashi, Terrance Montenegro, Eun Syu Hahn, Ichiro Borja, Reginald Pascual, and, Kirt Andon; forward Kaden Church; and goalies Jason Quimzon, Jamin Elliott, and Floyd Muna.

“We selected the players who are ready for the national team pride and to play for the CNMI people that are supporting us,” Mita said.

“I would like to thank the players who did not make the final list for working hard since I took this team eight months ago. All the players showed dedication to the national team. They bring competitive environment to the team and boost each other’s confidence, making it hard for us to select the Final 19. We would also like to thank the players’ parents and clubs for their continued support,” the Teen Ayuyus head coach added.

Players chosen were grateful for the opportunity to compete in an international tournament and vowed to go all out in every game to represent the CNMI well.

“This is my first time to Thailand but this isn’t my first international game so I’m expecting it will hard or even harder than my past games. I can’t be satisfied with what we have now because I know we have a lot to show. This tournament is a big thing, especially because we are the underdogs. We need to change that tag by stepping up and working harder. Other than that I’m excited and hoping for a good result,” said team captain Manabat.

“I’d like to thank my parents, coaches, friends and family for the support. Without them I wouldn’t be able to make it to the team. Thank you as well to NMIFA for giving us a chance to play in the international level,” he added.

For Hahn, playing in Thailand will give them the right time and opportunity to show how the team has been working hard in the past several months.

“No matter what awaits us there, I think the boys are ready to go and give it our all and represent our islands,” Hahn said.

Montenegro echoed Hahn’s sentiments, adding that the Teen Ayuyus will work even harder and together now that the competition is just around the corner. The qualifiers will run from Sept. 16 to 24 with the CNMI challenging Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, and Timor-Leste in the Group G games at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. The top finisher in the round-robin play in Group G will advance to next year’s finals along with the winners in the nine other qualifiers.