Mongolia, Guam join NMI in 3 Nations Cup

The Northern Mariana Islands Sports Association continues its busy summer schedule, as it hosts the NMIFA Women’s U21 Three Nations Cup, starting this Tuesday, July 23, at the NMI Soccer Training Center.

After hosting Shonan Bellmare of Japan, Tuloy Football Club of the Philippines, and the Chelsea FC Soccer School Hong Kong at the NMISTC for their respective training camps and friendly matches, this time the NMIFA will welcome the Mongolian Women’s National Team and the Guam Women’ National Team for a double round-robin tournament this week. Mongolia’s 25-player and official delegation is scheduled to arrive early Monday morning, while Guam, which is also represented by 25 delegates, is slated to touch down at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport the same day.

The visiting teams’ arrival is in time with the opening match scheduled for July 23 at 6pm where the NMI Women’s National Team gets the first chance to challenge Mongolia. Mongolia will play back-to-back games early in the week, as it takes on Guam in the July 24 match, also set for 6pm. Meanwhile, the long-time rivalry between the NMI and Guam will be featured in the July 25 match at 6pm. Participating teams will challenge each other twice with the squad with the most points (based on win-draw-loss standings) winning the Three Nations Cup.

“We are excited to welcome Mongolia to our islands for the first time, as their players showcase their skills against our players and in front of our growing local soccer community. We would like to thank the leadership of the Mongolian Football Federation, under president Bold Molomjamts, for this partnership and for bringing their team to the NMI,” NMIFA president Jerry Tan said.

“Guam has been NMI’s soccer’s supporter since Day 1 and every time we would like to arrange a tournament or even just a training/friendly match, the Guam Football Association is always there for us. More than our storied Marianas rivalry, we valued our strong partnership with GFA that has allowed to bring where NMI soccer is at now,” the NMIFA president added.

Meanwhile, NMIFA general secretary Ross Zapanta said events like the NMIFA Women’s U21 Three Nations Cup and hosting training camp/matches for Shonan Bellmare, Tuloy FC, and Chelsea, are part of the association’s continued efforts in developing the sports, providing opportunities to local players and officials, and engaging and showing spectators different levels and styles of plays.

Zapanta also rallied the community to watch this week’s matches and show our warm hafa adai and tirow welcome to the visiting teams, while supporting the NMI Women’s National Team. He added that after this week’s competition, the NMIFA will also host the Marianas Cup with the NMI’s Men’s National Team facing Guam’s Men’s National Team on Aug. 3 and 4.

The match schedule for the NMIFA Women’s U21 Three Nations Cup are as follows:

June 23: NMI vs. Mongolia 6pm

June 24: Mongolia vs. Guam 6pm

June 25: NMI vs. Guam 6pm

June 26: Mongolia vs. NMI 6pm

June 27: Guam vs. Mongolia 6pm

June 28: Guam vs. NMI 6pm (PR)