More college-bound players, one proud coach

In this file photo, the CNMI’s Thaiphi Austria moves away from his defender during a training camp in Japan. (Contributed Photo)

Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director Michiteru Mita can’t help but be proud of having another CNMI player heading to the collegiate level.

Mita was talking about Thaiphi Austria, a member of the CNMI U19 National Team and has recently signed up to play for Trine University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

“I first met Thaiphi in 2017. The U17 National Team held a training camp in Japan and I clearly remembered him because he was the youngest player selected on the team for that camp. Also, I heard later that he was youngest player (he was 13 years old that time) to play for the CNMI in the AFC U16 Championship Qualifier in Laos (in 2015),” the CNMI head coach said.

“He is very committed, a hard worker, and very enthusiastic to improve himself. He never missed training. He always ask me questions after our training or game if he did not understand some things during our training,” Mita added.

The NMIFA official also praises Austria’s leadership skills and his demeanor on and off the pitch.

CNMI coach Michiteru Mita checks on his players before heading out of the field during a practice session in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last year. (Contributed Photo)

“He has a sense of responsibility. He always talks to other players when the team is having a hard training and he always show his 100% in the game and practice and leads other players. He was selected the NMIFA grassroots ambassador in 2019, as he is a role model to the CNMI kids,” Mita said.

“What impressed me the most about him is his humility. He is humble even though he has achieved many things in his early age. I saw many cases of players stop working hard or having too much confidence once he/she achieved one thing and later they stop improving and did not succeed,” the Blue Ayuyus coach added.

Mita credited Austria’s club coaches (TanHoldings Football Club), former CNMI mentor Kiyoshi Sekiguchi, assistant coach Jersh Angeles, and the young player’s parents for the 19-year-old’s success. The current CNMI coach also wishes to see more players from the islands get a chance to play in the collegiate level.

“We have many young potential players like Thaiphi who are capable of playing in college because we have a good youth development system. Also, we have NMIFA, which keeps supporting our players and working on youth develop with consistency—that is crucial. But, in the end, what’s important is the player’s ambition and character plus the parents’ support.”