Blue Ayuyus vs Matao in opener

The CNMI Men’s National Team’s Bo Barry, right, scans the field, while trying to dribble away from his defender during their training match against Shonan Bellmare in Japan last month. The CNMI will be playing in the the EAFF E-1 Football Championships 2019 Round 1 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, starting this Sunday. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI and Guam’ rivalry will be on spotlight this Sunday as the Blue Ayuyus and Matao play in the opening game in the EAFF E-1 Football Championships 2019 Round 1 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

The CNMI and Guam men’s national teams will collide in the 1pm match (3pm Saipan time) at the Mongolia Football Federation Stadium to begin their bid in the qualifying tournament that also features the host team and Macau. The winner of the qualifier will advance to Round 2 and play against host Chinese-Taipei, North Korea, and Hong Kong in the November tournament, while the second round top finisher will qualify in the next year’s finals and challenge South Korea, Japan, and China.

Against Guam, the Blue Ayuyus will be fielding their youngest ever crew since the CNMI started competing in East Asian Football Federation-sanctioned event in 2017. Michiteru Mita will coach the squad, which has three-time national team player Jonathan Takano as captain. Completing the Blue Ayuyus’ roster are vice captain Enrico Del Rosario, siblings Anthony and Joel Fruit, Bo Barry, Sunjoon Tenorio, Jehn Joyner, Hark Galario, Thaiphi Austria, Sebastien Manabat, John Bucayo, Christopher Aninzo, John Michale Rojas, Jonathan Capayas, Nick Swaim, Dai Podziewski, Ryu Tanzawa, and Ryan Relucio. Mita and company are on their way to Mongolia after making stop in South Korea for the team’s last training camp before their see action in the EAFF competition.

Guam also had a training camp in South Korea and did the same in California where they played against San Diego State University’s men’s soccer team and LA Galaxy. Former Australian pro player Karl Dodd calls the shot for Matao. Guam’s official roster were unavailable at the Guam Football Association’s website, but 15 players were called for its training camp in California. They were A.J. DeLa Garza, Marlon Evans, Dallas Jaye, Isaiah Lagutang, Alexander Lee, Justin Lee, Nathaniel Lee, Shane Malcolm, John Matkin, Jacob McDonald, Edward Na, Dylan Naputi, Shawn Nicklaw, Travis Nicklaw, and Jared Pangindian.

Mita, in an earlier interview with Saipan Tribune before they left for South Korea, said they are counting on the Blue Ayuyus’ collective effort on offense and defense to produce positive results in their campaign in the EAFF tournament. The Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director added they have limited information about their opponents, so they have to stick with their game plan and then make the adjustment when situations call for it.

After their opening game against Guam, the Blue Ayuyus will take on Mongolia on Sept. 4 at 2pm, while their match over Macau is set for Sept. 5 at 1pm.

Meanwhile, in the women’s division, the CNMI will have its first game on Sept. 3 against Mongolia at 5pm at the Mongolian National Stadium. Then two days later, the Commonwealth’s female strikers will duel Macau at 2pm, while their showdown against Guam is slated for Sept. 7, also at 2pm.

Olympian Luam Khen Koo is the team’s head coach, while the squad’s roster has captain Janelle Chojnacki, Emalyn Aniana, Guinevere Borja, Sharmaine Francisco, Jerlyn and Jeralyn Castillo, Gillian Villagomez, Gabrielle Race, Gianna Griffin, Emiliana King, Britany Wally, Carla Ballesteros, Krizel Tuazon, Therize Millare, Katrina Costales, Grace Choi, Pauylynn Joyce, and Sue Ann Huevos.