NMIFA vows to strengthen program

The Northern Mariana Islands Football Association is not resting on its laurels after getting a full membership status from the East Asian Football Association.

“We are very happy with all the positive development in CNMI football. EAFF’s granting of full membership to NMIFA is a huge step towards our application to AFC (Asian Football Confederation). I am very sure that AFC views this development very positively. But there are still much do be done,” said NMIFA president Jerry Tan, who along with vice president Sue Knecht was in Tokyo, Japan last month to witness a historic mark for CNMI football.

“Full membership comes with opportunities as well as responsibilities. NMIFA will continue to develop football program in the CNMI in all levels, especially the club system and interscholastic competition,” Tan said.

The NMIFA president said to do this, they need to register more players every year, as it is their mission to spread football to everyone concern in the CNMI.

“We look at football as more than just another sport. It is a healthy lifestyle, too,” Tan added.

Tan said besides getting many people involved in the sports every year, another concern for NMIFA is facility

“Another big challenge that NMIFA constantly face is lack of football pitch, as we have to share facility with other sports, especially baseball. Development of more football pitch is extremely important to our long-term program for football,” Tan said.

NMIFA is using school fields for its U12 league. Three years ago when the association was just starting, games were mostly held at the American Memorial Park.

When CNMI hosted Guam for the EAFF qualifier, the match was played at the Oleai Sports Complex, which houses the track and field facility.

With NMIFA now a part of EAFF, Tan said they are expecting to start enjoying the benefits given to full members next year.

“As a full member of EAFF, we are now asking for more technical assistance in terms of coaching and refereeing clinics. Since football is still new here, we must give equal weight in developing coaches and referees in addition to developing players. Clinics and workshops will be very important for NMIFA in 2009, we can have our volunteers trained and get certified,” Tan said.

The NMIFA president is thankful to the community for supporting the association since its inception three years ago and for helping NMIFA secure a full membership status from EAFF.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the community for supporting NMIFA for the past three years. Under difficult economic times, our job to develop a new sport becomes even more challenging. We are very grateful to all the support that we have received from both the private and public sectors, especially the hundreds of volunteers who spent personal time to support our program as coaches and referees, and national players,” Tan said.

“NMIFA is committed to continue the development of football in the CNMI so our players will be given opportunities to compete both locally and internationally, and be part of the most popular sports in the world. I hope we can count on continuing support and assistance from everyone as we take NMIFA to the next level,” he added.