CNMI youth strikers invited to AFC events

The Commonwealth’s youth players received invitations to four Asian Football Confederation-sanctioned events.

On top of the list is the AFC U13 Girls Football Tournament 2012, which will be held in Nanjing, China from June 8 to 15.

Ed Salas, general secretary of Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, which is in charge of sending football teams to off-island competitions, said over 20 players are trying out for slots/training for the China tournament and 18 will be selected on the girls U13 team.

The second competition for the CNMI’s youth female strikers is the qualifying round for the AFC U16 Championship 2013. The qualifier is set for October this year and players born from Jan. 1, 1997 to Dec. 31, 1999 are eligible to participate in the tryout and make the team. Venue for the October qualifier has yet to be announced.

For the boys U13/U14 players, two AFC events and one East Asian Football Federation competition are lined up.

The CNMI youth strikers are invited to compete in the AFC U14 Boys Festival of Football in Beijing, China. The event in Beijing will take place from April 23 to 30.

So far, there are over 30 U13/U14 male players joining NMIFA’s training session and aspiring to make the team. This pool is also training for the qualifying tournament for the AFC U16 Championship 2014 and the EAFF U15 Youth Tournament.

The qualifier for the AFC U16 event will be held in October 2012 with the venue yet to be announced while the EAFF competition is also set for next year.

Salas said that getting invites from AFC events is crucial in the CNMI’s bid to become a regular member of the football government body in Asia.

“One of the requirements in our AFC application is to participate in AFC tournaments. If opportunities like these come, we should grab them, as competing in these events will show are determination and commitment to become a regular AFC member,” said Salas.

NMIFA is only an associate member of AFC.

“Also, by sending teams to these competition, we will continue to develop our grassroots program. We have to be active in various competitions to achieve our AFC membership quest,” Salas added.

Players tryout out for the youth teams are getting help from local coaches and the visiting mentors from Chelsea FC Soccer School (Hong Kong). Regular training sessions are done at the Oleai Sports Complex Field and the various school pitches on Saipan.

Players vying for slots on the team come from MP United, Paire FC, Tan Holdngs FC, Shirley’s FC, and Matansa FC.