Sidekicks FC nearly sweeps friendly matches

Sidekick Football Club, right, and Matansa Football Club players kick the ball during the first half of their friendly game last Saturday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The visiting Sidekick Football Club won its first three friendly games here before dropping the final one last weekend at the Koblerville Elementary School Field.

The Guam-based club prevailed against TanHoldings FC U10, 11-1, Kanoa FC U10, 10-1, and Matansa FC U10, 9-0, before falling to Kanoa U12, 0-7.

“The winning margins may be big, but these do not reflect the great games showed by the opposing teams. Our players and players from the clubs we faced showed tremendous talents and lots of promise,” said Sidekick FC coach Paul Tapao.

Sidekick FC bought 12 of the 13 players from its boys U10 roster to Saipan not only to challenge Northern Mariana Islands Football Association member clubs, but also to prepare for the upcoming fall league in Guam.

“We were undefeated last season and the boys, who are nine and eight years old and have been with us since they were 6 are moving up to the next level—the U13 competition. We feel playing against teams outside Guam will help them get better and ready for tougher games,” Tapao said.

Sidekick FC first dueled TanHoldings in last Friday morning’s match and drew three goals apiece from Beau Perez and Douglas Kelly to get off to a good start. Perez had back-to-back goals with his shots in the fourth and sixth minute and he completed the hat trick in the 44th. Kelly logged his first in the 17th minute and also hit two straight with her second and third coming in at the 26th and 29th. Landen Diaz added a pair (11th and 21st minute), while Atreu Tapao, Noah Cruz, and Caleb Sablan contributed one each. Jerald Dalawampu made the lone goal for TanHoldings in the 41st minute of the one-hour match.

Against Kanoa U10, Kelly picked up where he left off, as he knocked in four goals in the Friday afternoon game. Sablan chipped in two, while Diaz, Zachariah Calvo, Perez, and Tapao recorded one apiece. Kanoa U10 only goal came from Jairus Santos right in the opening minute before the visiting team took control of the game the rest of the way.

Versus Matansa, the names of the scorers for Sidekick FC were not indicated in the match report. Only the scores in each halves were recorded with the winning team registering five in the first half and four in the second.

Its game against Matansa was played last Saturday morning and Sidekick FC, after only a few hours break, had to return to the pitch in the afternoon for the final match. Fatigue seemed to take its toll on the visiting squad, allowing a well-rested and much experienced Kanoa U12 crew to deny Sidekicks FC the sweep. Markus Toves and John Mark Anastacio scored two goals for Kanoa FC U12, while Paulo Jerome Quidato, Sean Gil, and Lester Bata made one each.