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Tebuteb: NMA coaches getting creative
Northern Marianas Athletics president Ray Tebuteb said their coaches have found creative ways to train their athletes as they prepare for two upcoming regional events.
“I can comfortably say that, our national coach Elias [Rangamar] and the other coaches will tell you, that we have been training even without a proper track facility,” Tebuteb told Saipan Tribune.
The track oval at the Oleai Sports Complex remains closed even if the resurfacing work at the facility has been completed middle of 2017. Other improvements are still being done at the Oleai track and all projects are expected to finish before a regional tournament in June.
NMA is preparing for the Oceania Micronesian Regional Championships that Saipan will be hosting from June 14 to 16, while the CNMI’s track stars will also compete in the 9th Micronesian Games in Yap from July 15 to 27.
“Our coaches consistently remind our athletes that there are no boundaries and limits for training, perhaps in all sports. They [coaches] possess a degree of excellence in our programs,” Tebuteb said.
Rangamar, who is also NMA’s development officer, has been leading the training of CNMI national athletes, including medal hopefuls Zarinae Sapong and Beo Ngirchongor, using other places on the island to conduct practices.
“Our coaches’ training may be rigorous, but it possesses a distinctive character that our kids value,” said Tebuteb.
He added that the decision to allow athletes to use the Oleai Sports Complex falls on the Northern Marianas Sports Association.
“Implementation for the use of the proper training facility [Oleai Sports Complex] is administrative and with NMSA. Our coaches are creative enough. More importantly, we respect NMSA’s disposition to the sports complex,” the NMA official added.
In other news, the NMA will also hold its annual sponsors appreciation dinner tomorrow, Feb. 1, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at Surf Club in Chalan Kanoa.
