NMI invited to join teqball development programs

A player kicks the ball during a game in last year’s Teqball Championship in Budapest, Hungary. (FITEQ Photo)

The CNMI, through the Northern Marianas Sports Association, has been invited to participate in the Fédération Internationale de Teqball’s national federation and club development programs.

FITEQ is the world governing body of teqball, a football-based sport that is played on a curved table with rules similar to table tennis and players (singles, men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles) using a soccer ball in an indoor or outdoor game.

Lillla Horvath, FITEQ’s Continental development manager for Asia and Oceania, in a letter sent to NMSA, encouraged the association to share information on teqball development opportunities with member federations and the community in general. Interested individuals or clubs may form a local teqball group and take advantage of the development programs currently being offered to promote the new sport in the NMI.

“We believe that starting teqball sport development from the grassroots level is the best possible way to introduce a new sport to any country. Therefore, we have created the National Federation Development program as well as the Teqball Club Development initiative. We would be very pleased to start our sport development in the Northern Mariana Islands as well,” Horvath said.

The official added that so far six countries in Oceania are playing the sport created in 2012 by former pro football player Gabot Borsanyi, businessman Gyuri Gattyan, and computer scientist Viktor Huszar. The list includes Samoa, Cook Islands, Guam, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

A player goes for a header during a game in this year’s Poland National Challenger Series. ( FITEQ Photo)

Under FITEQ’s National Federation Development Program, a newly established group will receive £6,000 (a little over $7,000) for one year; administrative and partnership support such as educational courses and event hosting grants; and donated equipment. For the Club Development Program, FITEQ will be giving away free Teq LITE tables. A national federation that has 15 clubs will receive 21 Teq tables, while 40 or more clubs will be given 56 Teq tables.

“FITEQ requires that any club joining the development program must be a legal entity. It can be a football club, a branch, a selection or any type of sport organization, sport facility. Entities such as schools, universities, profit, and non-profit organizations are also welcomed to join,” Horvath.

NMSA executive director Carline Sablan thanked Horvath and FITEQ for reaching out to the association and offering new sporting opportunities to the NMI. Sablan added that the programs’ information will be shared with to NMSA-member federations and the community. Interested individuals or groups may contact NMSA at marianassports@gmail.com for more information.

“NMSA always welcomes opportunities to get involved in programs that help develop the skills of our athletes and coaches/officials and encourage our community to take part in activities that not only promote sports excellence, but also health and wellness. NMSA will do what it can to support the development of teqball if the interest is there,” Sablan said. (PR)