Mita to bring continuity to CNMI soccer program

Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director and CNMI Men’s National Team coach Michiteru Mita poses for a photo before his interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday at the NMIFA office in Garapan. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The arrival of veteran coach Michiteru Mita to Saipan will ensure the continuity of the soccer program on island.

“I am here to provide continuity with the program. I will continue what coach Seki (Kiyoshi Sekiguchi) started and introduce ways to improve them,” said Mita, the new technical director of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association and head coach of the CNMI Men’s National Team.

Mita, who took over from Sekiguchi early last month, will work on the island’s grassroots program and talent identification through the physical education classes both in the private and public schools in the Commonwealth and strengthen the national teams (youth, men’s and women’s).

“Our national teams will be competing in international tournaments this year and I will do my best to prepare them and help them win games. I know it will take time to achieve these goals, but with teamwork and positive thinking, we can do it,” he said.

The CNMI is Mita’s fourth stop in his more than a decade of handling national teams. Before moving here, he was the technical director of Jordan Football Association. Mita was also the former technical director of Bangladesh Football Federation and Sudan Football Association and once coached a professional club in India. In Japan, he played in the semi-pro ranks for eight years and later coached a high school team.

The 41-year-old coach received an offer to fill Sekiguchi’s spot in August last year and had no second thoughts accepting the job.

“I was impressed with CNMI football. For such a small island, there are a lot of activities and the people are cooperative and very supportive,” said Mita, who briefly played for a pro club in the Netherlands.

“I know the FA is young compared to the other countries I had been and that’s a big challenge for me because I really want to contribute to make sure the FA will continue to improve,” the new technical head said.

The Japanese added that the safe and quiet life that Saipan offers made it easier for him to move here.

“The people are very warm and friendly. When you cross the street, the car will stop and let you go. I feel very safe here,” Mita said.

As for the CNMI players, he is pleased to see their willingness to learn and improve.

“When they make mistakes during practices, they do their best to recover and that’s very important for me. I am also happy to see them improve in their teamwork,” said Mita, who has made several visits on island since last year and watched the national teams’ games and training sessions under Sekiguchi.