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Betty Johnson is wild about soccer
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Posted on Nov 07 2006
Any coach roving the sidelines or any fan who sits down to watch the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association Women’s League at the American Memorial Park will tell you that the players are having a blast.
While some of the ladies running up and down the field have been playing the world’s most popular sport for years, the majority are experiencing their first taste of soccer on Saturday mornings on the Garapan pitch.
There are smiles as they celebrate big saves from their goaltenders and timely scores from their forwards, but the women also flash expressions of determination and grit as they play for themselves and their teammates.
Every week Betty Johnson dons her pink and black uniform and plays defense for the Fiesta Resort and Spa Femme Fatales. During the halftime break of her game against the UMDA Hot Salsa she explained why she enjoys the game.
“Playing soccer is great. It’s lots of fun and makes me feel like a kid. But more importantly, it’s wonderful how Brenda Shultz has made efforts to start a women’s league,” said Johnson.
Much like Schultz, Johnson spends a great deal of her “free time” supporting her children’s passion for youth sports on Saipan. Each of them also shares an affinity for soccer and Johnson said that there is tremendous potential for local women to get involved.
“It’s a whole new sport for women on the island, and what a fantastic experience to play with seasoned players, newbies, and the younger girls on the various teams. If we can get more of the girls from the high schools interested in the game and playing in the league, I see a bright future for women’s soccer in the CNNI.
There is still one final regular season game remaining for each of the four women’s teams this weekend before the playoffs, and league organizers encourage anyone interested in playing or volunteering in the future to stop down to the AMP at 9am Saturday morning to catch a glimpse of the action.
