Blue Ayuyus pressed to win vs Japanese teams

CNMI Men’s National Team training pool members participate in the 3,200m time trial as part of their training session yesterday at the Oleai Sports Complex.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director and CNMI coach Kiyoshi Sekiguchi said they are gunning for victories in their exhibition matches against two Japanese teams next week at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.

“Our goal is to win the games. We have to improve our offense and defense as well,” Sekiguchi said.

Sekiguchi and the CNMI Men’s National Team training pool will be facing first the Japan Soccer College on Feb. 16 at 4:30pm before challenging the Chuo University Countries on Feb. 18 also at 4:30pm at the Oleai pitch.

The Japan Soccer College players are frequent visitors to Saipan and they played against the CNMI Boys U18 National Team last year, losing a close match, 1-2. This year, the visiting team from Niigita Prefecture is bringing in 26 players, two coaches, one trainer, and one coordinator.

Chuo University Countries, on the other hand, is represented by 16 players and two coaches. It will play on Saipan for the first time, but the Japanese squad is no stranger to tough games, having won a tournament organized by Mainichi com.net company this year.

To prepare for their two exhibition games and boost their chances to win, Sekiguchi said their training sessions this week are focused on offense.

“We want to score effectively. I will change some players to check their level and condition during the game,” said Sekiguchi, who listed 19 players on the Blue Ayuyus roster when they played against Aries FC last Saturday. The visiting team won the match, 2-1.

Sekiguchi also held a 3,200m time trial for the pool yesterday at the Oleai track oval to test their speed and endurance.

“In a game, you may have the skill, but if you’re stamina is weak and you’re slow, your opponent can still beat you,” the Blue Ayuyus coach said.

The series of exhibition games against Japanese teams were scheduled to prepare the CNMI Men’s National Team for the East Asian Football Federation East Asian Cup 2016 Preliminary Round 1, which will be held in July with the venue yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, Japan Soccer College and Chuo University Countries will also duel in an exhibition match on Feb. 17 at 10am at the Oleai pitch. Then in the afternoon at 5pm, it will be the turn of the Saipan All-Stars to face Japan Soccer College.

Kiyoshi will play on the Saipan selection and will be joined by Jershwin Angeles, Martin Jambor, Young Ju Lee, Gil Chomg Koo, Jacky Lee, Peter Loken, Panapa Peteru, Ajani Burrell, Arkie Reusora, Suguru Takahashi, Clayton Izuka, Junsik Kim, and Feng Chun Jin. Some members of the CNMI training pool who will not be able to play in the Feb. 16 match will be fielded against Japan Soccer College in the Feb. 17 game.