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Guine’s feat to inspire other NMI players
CNMI captain Guine Borja, fifth left, celebrates with her teammates after making a goal in their game against Guam in last year’s Marianas Cup at the Guam Football Association Training Center in Dededo. (Guam Football Association)
If Guine Borja made it to the collegiate ranks, other CNMI players can, too.
Angie Ito, one of Borja’s coaches with the CNMI Women’s National Team, congratulated the 19-year-old for earning an athletics scholarship with Navarro College in Texas and hopes to see more players from the islands follow the latter’s footsteps.
“She is headstrong and has an opportunity to go far with her dreams. But I think her greatest opportunity is to be a role model for the young girls in the NMI…that they can do what she’s done too, to dream and keep going,” said Ito.
Borja signed a letter of intent to play for the Bulldogs, who compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association and are coached by former pro and Jamaica National Team member Alicia Wilson.
News on the many-time CNMI national team member and Paire Football Club player getting a chance to see action in the collegiate level does not surprise Ito at all, as the coach could attest to how Borja worked hard to be where she is right now.
“We’ve seen Guine’s great passion for soccer. Even during my first time managing the CNMI youth national girls team (U14), I already knew she has the potential to become a successful player in this sport,” Ito said.
Borja juggled her time between her studies and training sessions with the national team and though there were times that she had to stop playing because of an injury, she managed to get back to the pitch and help the squad.
“We’ve seen her improve her skills and smarts for it. We’ve seen her ups and downs with soccer, but she pulled through high school while playing for the CNMI women’s national team,” the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association staff said.
After Borja completed her high school, she remained in contact with Ito and the coaching staff, sending videos of her training workouts.
“We, at NMIFA and the women’s national team are very happy and proud to see her move up to the collegiate level. We will continue to support her and wish her success in her college soccer career,” Ito said.
CNMI captain Guine Borja, fifth left, poses with her counterpart in Guam, Shyann Roberto, second left, and match officials before their game in last year’s Marianas Cup at the Guam Football Association Training Center in Dededo. (Guam Football Association)
