MP United keeps solid U15 roster for fall league

MP United is likely to be the team to beat in the U15 fall league in September as all members of the spring champion squad are returning next season.

“We will still have a solid roster next season because no one is moving to U18 and all the boys are coming back this season, which is great news for the club,” coach Norman Del Rosario said.

The MP United U15 team members are co-captains Jehn Joyner and Enrico del Rosario, Jake Lee, Dakota Hall, Andrew Johnson, Angelo Jones, Jordan Butcher, Kennedy Izuka, John Taisacan, and Gregzon Fontanilla. These 10 players also made it to the CNMI U15 Team that will compete in the 2011 East Asian Football Federation U15 Youth Tournament in Taipei, Taiwan this month. Completing the MPU squad are Woo Seuk Choi, Kaisei Toda, Julien Pellegrino, Greg Sablan, Sam Soledad, Daniel Lim, Bob Kim, John Masga, Ryu Tanzawa and Aaron Lee.

MP United ruled the 2011 NMIFA Spring Youth League after going undefeated in the two-round robin competition for the group’s third straight championship and second with Del Rosario at the helm. Katie Peters and Joon Lee coached MP United when it won the U14 spring season.

Del Rosario and his wards have more than two months to prepare for their title defense and since most members of the team are set to play in Taipei, they are slowing down a bit in their training sessions.

“Actually, after the season ended we still practice but only every Wednesday. During the season, we practice every Monday and Wednesday. We hold off the practice for the meantime because of the National Team’s practice. We will be continuing our once-a-week practice after their Taipei trip,” Del Rosario said.

When asked which team he thinks will challenge MP United in its bid for a fourth straight championship, Del Rosario said he can’t tell, as he knows other clubs—Paire, Matansa, Shirley’s, and Tan Holdings—are also making significant improvements.

“All the teams have improved tremendously and I can’t say which will be our toughest opponent next season. With that in mid, we have to execute our game plan, give our 100 percent every game whoever we’re playing against, and most importantly have fun in every match,” the MP United coach said.

“I am so proud of this team because all of them are friends in and out of the pitch, they help each other to improve their games. Off the pitch, they are still a team as members attend their teammates graduation and birthday parties. MPU Football Club is a one big happy family,” Del Rosario added.