National players wrap up training camp

CNMI national players perform drills during a training camp in Matsuyama, Japan last week. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI national team’s U19 and U23 players will have their last day of training camp in Matsuyama, Japan today.

The group, headed by Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director and coach Michiteru Mita, will only have its measurements and drills in the morning at the Matsuyama-shi Hojo Sports Center, as it is scheduled to leave for the airport early afternoon for its return flight to Saipan tonight.

Today’s activities will cap the Commonwealth players’ eight-day training camp, which aimed at preparing them for the 2019 Marianas Cup (July 20) in Guam and the AFC U19 Championship 2020 Qualifiers (November) in Cambodia.

For their penultimate training match, the CNMI players were slated to challenge anew St. Catherine University, a collegiate team in Matsuyama, last night. Results of the game were unavailable at press time, but the visiting squad was hoping to get even with the Japanese players after losing in their first meeting.

According to team manager Raymond Zapanta, the CNMI team played against St. Catherine for nearly two hours under a light rain last week.

“Both teams appeared to be getting a feel for each other, so there was a descent amount of pressure on both sides. There were a few players that cramped, but no serious injuries,” said Zapanta, adding that the CNMI bets earlier trained at the artificial turf of the Matsuyama-shi Hojo Sports Center before dueling St. Catherine.

The national players also managed to work out at the indoor facility at Hojo Sports Center to avoid the heavy rain anticipated last Thursday morning. Then in the afternoon, despite the threat from the weather, Matsuyama High School graciously agreed to play against the CNMI players.

“The weather was truly in our favor, and the match went on with just a drizzle of rain. This time, only the U19 players played, and U23 players did recovery training. Sunjoon (Tenorio) scored in the second half after John Michael Rojas intercepted a pass at midfield and delivered the ball to Sunjoon for the finish,” Zapanta said.

“The game was an eye-opener for first-time national players, Ronnel Ocanada and Skyler Poon, because the high school team played more on the offensive,” he added.

Besides St. Catherine and Matsuyama, the CNMI also had training matches against FC Imabari Youth and Ehime University.

CNMI national players and Matsuyama High School team members pose for a photo after a training match in Japan last week. (Contributed Photo)