Coach Seki: Less talk, more work

Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director Kiyoshi Sekiguchi talks less, but has done a lot to CNMI football.

NMIFA officials, during a send-off ceremony to three CNMI national teams—two of which will be coached by Sekiguchi—acknowledged the technical director’s significant contributions to the Commonwealth football since joining the group more than two years ago.

“Coach Seki has done a lot for us from coaching and training our players to bringing teams to play against us. He was also responsible for helpings us secure a sponsorship deal with Soccer Junky for our national teams uniform and recently he made it possible for our U19 team to have a training camp,” NMIFA president Jerry Tan said last Saturday during the send-off ceremony for the CNMI U14, U16, and U19 teams at the lobby of Kanoa Resort.

Tan was talking of the U19 squad’s five-day training camp (Sept. 20 to 25) in Chonburi, Thailand, where the CNMI will have a scrimmage against a local club before heading to Bangkok for the AFC U19 Championship Bahrain 2016 Qualifiers. Sekiguchi, who is well-known in the Japan football community and in Asia after having served as technical director of Laos and coach of several Japanese squads before taking the top coaching post in the CNMI, pulled the right strings to arrange a training camp for his U19 players.

NMIFA technical director and CNMI coach Kiyoshi Sekiguchi addresses the crowd during a send-off ceremony for the three national squads last Saturday at the lobby of Kanoa Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

“We never had a training camp for our national team before. It is something that we wanted to have in the past several years, but it’s not that easy because of the logistics and proper connections involved. But, coach Seki made it happen for us and we would like to thank him for all his efforts and making sure our players get the right opportunity and exposure,” Tan said.

Tan also shared how Sekiguchi helped three Hong Kong players suit up in Japan’s women’s pro league, the J League 2. The NMIFA president said Sekiguchi arranged for the three players to try out for Japan Soccer College and eventually they were signed to play for the team.

“The three players made headlines in Hong Kong for one week. Thanks to coach Seki for helping them get this opportunity. I am sure coach Seki will do the same for our players, so work hard, play hard, and do your best,” Tan said, addressing members of the three national teams.

Sekiguchi, who as expected delivered a brief message to the CNMI national team players, told them to play not only for themselves and the CNMI, but also for those who did not make the team and for their parents.

“Thank you to the parents for bringing your kids to practice every day and sometimes two times a day. To the players, play your best and enjoy the tournament,” Sekiguchi said.