Registration on for fall youth league

A TanHoldings Football Club player, right, kicks the ball in front of a Kanoa FC defender during their game in the co-ed U12 division of the NMIFA Youth Spring League this year at the Hopwood Junior High School Field. The fall league will kick off on Sept. 16. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Four clubs are gearing up for the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League and are inviting interested players to join their age group teams for a season of soccer, fun, fellowship, and more.

Matansa Football Club, which is one of the founding members of Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, has started its registration and welcomes students and other youth players residing in Tanapag, San Roque, and As Matuis to its growing family. Matansa is looking for players for its co-ed U6, U8, U10, and U12 (A and B), girls U15, boys U14, and boys U17 teams, and they can register by contacting Elna Curate at 483-11-76.

The club calls Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School as its home field and students/players keen on becoming members of the group can drop by and observe Matansa’s practices. The boys U17 team trains every Tuesday, while the club’s U8, U10, and U12 squads have their practice sessions every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, respectively. All training sessions start from 4:30pm and last until 5:30pm and are conducted by Matansa’s pool of experienced coaches.

“Right now we have about 90 youth players and we would like to have more. We are open for registration all throughout the season and everyone is invited even if they are not from the San Roque, Tanapag, and As Matuis villages. We also have players who reside in Kagman and Capital Hill,” Curate said.

“We will circulate emails to various schools in the villages to invite their students to join the club,” she added.

While Matansa caters to players up north, down south there are three clubs to choose from—TanHoldings Football Club, Southern United Football Club, and Kanoa Football Club.

The Francisco Mendiola Sablan Middle School is home to TanHoldings, which looks to stock its pool of around 100 players. The club also participates in the U6, U8, U10, U12, girls U15, and boys U14 and U17 division of the youth league.

FMS students and youth residents of San Antonio and surrounding villages are invited to register or check TanHoldings teams practices every Thursday, beginning at 5pm (for U6, U8, U10, U12, and girls U15) and Friday from 4:30pm (for boys U14 and U17 division). Registration can be made through TanHoldings FC coach Ladyvir Canape or the club’s Facebook page (TanHoldings FC) and contact numbers 989-2545.

“Come and join our club that has a winning tradition and treats its members, coaches, and players’ parents as family,” Canape said.

Kanoa Football Club also has about 100 players divided into the seven age groups and looks to recruit more. Practices schedule will be posted at William S. Reyes Elementary School, the club’s home. Usually, each age group squad trains once a week after school hours at the WSR pitch.

Newcomers need not to worry, as Kanoa has a pool of coaches, who are members of the national teams, have been with the sports for years, and have undergone seminars/clinics. Chalan Kanoa, Susupe, and Chalan Kiya youth residents are welcome to join the club. Contact coach Cristy Villafor at 789-9192 and check the club’s Facebook page (Kanoa Football Club) for more information.

For Koblerville youth residents, the practical choice is the newest club in town—Southern United. The fledging club has around 50 players spread in the U6, U8, U10, U12, and girls U15 divisions, leaving more rooms for new recruits.

Southern United trains at the well-kept and spacious Koblerville Elementary School pitch every Tuesday from 4pm onwards. Contact person is Megan Aglipay at 789-8362 or Ruselle Zapanta through the club’s Facebook page (Southern United FC). Announcements will be posted at the home of the Umangs to update students about the club’s activities for the season.

The 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League will kick off on Sept. 16 at the various school fields. Other club’s registration info will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday edition.

Registration fees per clubs are minimal and in exchange players can look forward to continued physical, social, and mental development, are encouraged to live an active lifestyle, and have opportunities to represent their school and the island in regional and international tournaments in the future.