Triple J Motors boosts support to CNMI soccer

Triple J Motors Saipan marked its sixth year of partnership with Northern Mariana Islands Football Association with a very generous sponsorship package that would help NMIFA reach out to the community to further promote the sport.

Triple J Motors Saipan turned over a brand new 2019 Hyundai Kona to NMIFA president Jerry Tan and technical director Michiteru Mita last Saturday in the presence of Triple J executives and other NMIFA officials at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. On top of the Hyundai Kona, Triple J Saipan will also be giving NMIFA a brand new 2019 Hyundai Palisade later this year and both cars will be used by the association’s staff, as they go round the island and introduce the program to the community.

“Triple J Motors Saipan has faithfully supported us through the years. It started with Randy Steele (former Triple J Saipan Motors general manager) and even though he has left the island, Triple J Saipan kept its commitment to NMIFA and we are very thankful for that,” NMIFA vice president Vickie Izuka said.

“This year, we are very fortunate that Triple J Saipan has decided to increase the sponsorship package by giving us two brand new cars. Triple J Saipan’s generosity speaks volumes of its unwavering support to programs that benefit our community, especially the youth,” added Izuka, who co-chairs the NMIFA Youth Committee that oversees the two-season NMIFA Youth League, which Triple J Saipan is also supporting.

Triple J Motors senior vice president Jay Jones, meanwhile, said that their company remains committed to NMIFA, as the association continues to accomplish its goals for CNMI soccer.

“Triple J shares in the long-term vision Jerry Tan and NMIFA have for the sport of soccer in the CNMI. We are proud to enhance our partnership with this donation, and, we look forward for it to grow as the league/program does,” Jones said.

Triple J Saipan vice president of Finance and Administration Mike Sablan echoed Jones’ sentiments and acknowledge NMIFA leaders and everyone involved in growing the sport in the Commonwealth.

“This program has been very successful for the past several years, as seen in the growth of its membership. We commend the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association under the leadership of Jerry Tan for their dedication and hard work in developing the sport in the CNMI. In fact, we are inspired to learn that the program has thousands of players and majority of them are youth. It’s truly inspiring. Triple J is committed to supporting community events and activities, and we hope through sponsorships as such, we will help encourage more sport enthusiasts to get involved and stay in the game,” Sablan said.

With Triple J Saipan providing NMIFA staff transportation, they will continue to visit various schools in the CNMI and implement the Physical Education support program. NMIFA staff and coaches teach students in the grade school level the basics of soccer, conduct drills that engage children in physical activities, and instill in them the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. They also facilitate various competitions and soccer-related activities that NMIFA holds at the NMISTC and some select venues.

“Schools are one of the key contributors to the success of our soccer program. We’re able to bring in youth to our grassroots program by visiting schools. “If players/students can’t come to us, we will come to them. To do that we need resources, such as transportation, so Triple J Saipan’s support definitely plays a big part in NMIFA’s goal to reach out to more children and encourage them to play soccer and get involved in physical activities,” Tan said.

“We are deeply grateful to Triple J led by its chair and CEO Bob Jones. Growing the soccer program in the CNMI comes with challenges and we’re able to get through them with the help of supportive and committed groups like the Triple J family,” the NMIFA head added. (PR)