MPU finishes strong in Tokyo tournament

MP United Football Club U12 players join a Japanese team for a group photo at the conclusion of the 1st Ota International Football Tournament held in Tokyo, Japan late last month. (Contributed Photo)

MP United Football Club’s U12 team won three of its last four games for a strong finish in the Challenge League Division of the 1st Ota International Football Tournament held in Tokyo, Japan late last month.

MP United dropped its first two matches, prevailed in the next three and lost its last game in the inaugural tournament that took place last Dec. 23 and 24. The visiting squad topped Bears Soccer School, 5-2, to make up for its back-to-back losses to Ohmoro FC, 1-15, and Shosen FC, 2-6, on Day 1 of the competition. The Gene Weaver-coached team then shut down Nepal Youth, 6-0, before extending its streak to three with another victory over Bears Soccer School, 5-2, on Day 2. MP United missed a sweep of its last four matches after falling to Koike FC, 1-7. Ohmori FC won the tournament, outlasting Higashi-Chofu Daiichi FC in a shootout.

Garrett Weaver, Leo Takahashi, Aubrey Castro, Audrey Castro, Richie Castro, Evan Mendiola, Dev Bachani, and Kristoffer Pascual suited up for the MPU U12 crew that saw action in the two-day tournament. Liza Castro and Tori Weaver were also part of the squad with the former serving as team manager and the latter as assistant coach.

Pascual was the squad’s goalkeeper and received the “Most Impressive Award” from organizers, while team captain Takahashi won one of the MVP titles in the competition.

“The kids got to see first-hand the different levels of talent in the tournament. The friendship, exposure and experience that they got from this tournament will last for a lifetime,” said Gene Weaver, who thanked former Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director Kiyoshi Sekiguchi for inviting the club to the tournament.

“When Coach Seki extended the invitation to MP United FC U12A, we accepted it without hesitation. The tournament provided a unique opportunity for these talented and hard working individuals to participate and compete at a higher level in their division and it enabled them to have the chance to develop life-long friendships with teams they challenged, experience great pride in representing MP United FC, and participate in something that may very well be an opportunity of a life time. The team would like to thank, MP United FC, IT&E, sponsors, parents, and most especially coach Seki for inviting MP United FC U12A,” the coach added.

Team manager Liza Castro, on the other hand, said last month’s tournament was a testing ground for the developing squad.

“This was a very good opportunity for our team to compete against foreign oppositions. They exposed themselves to the bigger picture, immersed themselves in a foreign football culture, and tested their skills against foreign teams. All our players had a good experience in this tournament as they were introduced to different cultures, were able to enhance their technical abilities, and learned new tactics that for sure will help them improve,” Castro said.