Teen Ayuyus show composure vs Guam

The CNMI Boys U15 National team players and officials pose for a photo at the departure area of the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport before heading to Guam last Friday. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI U15 Boys National Team forced Guam to a 2-2 draw in their first friendly game last Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The Teen Ayuyus managed to tie the match despite falling behind in the first half. Joshua Mendez broke the visiting team’s silence with his goal in the 62nd minute, while John Michael Rojas made the equalizer just three minutes before the 90-minute tiff wrapped up.

“The boys showed great fighting spirits and they did not panic and give up the game after we conceded two goals in the first half,” said head coach and Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director Michiteru Mita, who traveled to Guam with the youth team, assistant coaches Jonathan Takano and Jershwin Angeles, and manager Rodwealth Espana last Friday afternoon.

“After the first two goals, the boys picked up the ball immediately and tried to restart the game quickly. These are good signs. But Guam players are technically better in this game, they controlled the ball under pressure and built up from behind which we could not. Our boys have to learn that they need to play a different standard in today’s (last Saturday) international match,” Mita added.

The game against the Guam U15 Boys National Team was part of the Teen Ayuyu’s five-day training camp in Guam. Yesterday, the visiting squad was scheduled to duel the Dededo FC, while today, Mita’s wards will challenge the Islanders. The Teen Ayuyus will then meet Guam’s youth squad anew tomorrow before returning to Saipan Tuesday evening. Besides the training matches, the Teen Ayuyus are also undergoing clinics on nutrition and conditioning in preparation for the AFC U16 Championship 2018 Qualifiers.

Mita said the training camp in Guam will help the Commonwealth players gain high-level game experience in a good facility. He also hopes to develop the kind of mentality that a national player should have, one with confidence and values team spirit. All these factors must be considered as they are expecting a tough ride in the AFC U16 Championship 2018 Qualifiers, which will be held from Sept. 16 to 24.

The CNMI is on the East Zone, Group G of the qualifiers and will head to Thailand to battle the host country, Laos, Timor-Lester, and Indonesia. There are 10 groups in the qualifiers with the top finisher in each pool and the five best second placed-teams advancing to the finals next year. Guam is in Group J with favorite Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore, while defending champion Iraq is in Group D, joining host Nepal, Palestine, and India.

Meanwhile, the CNMI has listed 22 players for its training camp in Guam. Joining Rojas and Mendez on the pool are Floyd Muna, John Martin Palad, Jason Quimzon, Ichiro and Taka Borja, Eunsyu Hahn, Ian Maniago, Terrance Montenegro, Jhoey Noble, Mark Salamat, Razeff Altamirano, Kirt Andon, Aloyzeus Angeles, John Guiller Canape, Edward Cho, Sebastian Manabat, Joseph Rasa, Joshua Waldo, Mark Esalan, and Reginald Pascual.