NMIFA recognizes awardees for 2017 fall season
- The individual awardees in the girls U15 division are joined by NMIFA general secretary Ross Zapanta, right, and deputy general secretary Merlie Tolentino, fourth left, for a photo after the trophy presentation. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Northern Mariana Islands Football Association handed trophies and medals to players and teams that excelled in the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League during an awards ceremony at the Kanoa Resort last Friday.
NMIFA general secretary Ross Zapanta and deputy general secretary Merlie Tolentino awarded medals and trophies to the champion teams in the co-ed U12, girls U15, boys U14, and boys U17 divisions and miniature trophies to the Golden Boot, Golden Glove, and Fair Play winners.
Kanoa Football Club-1 took home medals and the championship trophy in the co-ed U12 age group, while its goalkeeper Joe Emil Antonio got the Golden Glove plum for yielding only 24 goals throughout the three-month season (September to November). MP United’s Andrew Chung was the recipient of the Golden Boot trophy in the division for scoring 39 goals.
In the boys U14, Taka Borja’s 15 goals gave him the Golden Boot award, while MP United’s Floyd Muna earned the Golden Glove trophy for allowing only seven goals in the fall season, which MP United ruled.
In the girls U15, Kanoa was the champion, while its main striker Paulynn Joyce brought home another Goldel Boot award for recording a field-best 13 goals. Irish Viray of the runner-up Shirley’s FC won the Golden Glove trophy after surrendering only three goals.
In the boys U17, season champion MP United had a sweep with Sunjoon Tenorio and Christopher Aninzo getting the Golden Boot and Golden Glove awards, respectively. Tenorio had 19 goals in the fall, while Aninzo gave up only six.
For the Fair Play awards, which were handed to the players that exhibited excellent sportsmanship and were chosen by coaches, the recipients were MP United’s Audrey Castro (U12), Kanoa’s Merrick Toves (U15), MP United’s Maya Shimizu (U15), and Kanoa’s Jonathan Mindanao (U17).