Vivid Blue champs of Pacific Oceania Cup XIII

Japan’s Vivid Blue are the champions of the Pacific Ocean Cup XIII 2024 after defeating Kanoa Football Club, 1-0, last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Both teams came out of the starting gun running—eager to land a goal first. Vivid Blue was relentless with their attempts just as Kanoa was but none stuck until Fukawa Masaharu found an opening in the 11th minute.

If Kanoa didn’t hustle enough then, they hustled more than ever to catch up. Several exchanges near the net came up empty though and it was still a 1-0 lead for Vivid Blue heading into the second half.

Masaharu’s lone goal came out to be vital as it clinched the championship for them after Kanoa’s long-standing scoreless drought.

After a long battle on the pitch, Kanoa failed to even up the score and settled for second place.

Vivid Blue, along with Masaharu was made up of Reiru Okawa, Koharu Watanabe, Tominga Ryosei, Sato Keigo, Fukawa Masachika, Futo Okawa, Adachi Kota, and Kurebayashi Hayato. Their head coach was Tahara Sachiko and their assistant coach was Soeda Manato.

Third place went to Shirley’s FC and fourth place was MP United FC.

Vivid Blue was perfect in the preliminary round, winning all its matches—first against MP United, 2-1; then defeated Shirley’s, 5-0; after, they beat Kanoa, 2-0; they then blanked Shirley’s once more in the playoffs, 6-0.

Each team’s most valuable player awardees were Taiga Namai-Scoggins of MPU; Kota Adachi of Vivid Blue; Aldric Antonio of Kanoa FC, and Patrick McDonald of Shirley’s FC.

Vivid Blue not only clinched the championship, but collected two individual awards. The Golden Boot Award went to Reiru Okawa, while the Golden Glove Award was Masaharu.

The Fairplay Award went to Shirley’s FC.

The sponsors of the event were IT&E, Chong’s Corp., Tan Siu Lin Foundation, NMIFA, Marpac, iSHOP, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, and Sea Touch.

The homestay families included Martin and Sarka Jambor family, Shawna and Nick Brennfleck family, Mika George family, Kyoung Min Song family, and Jerry and Lydia Tan family.