NMIFA eyes 1K youth strikers next year

After the successful 2008 NMIFA Youth Festival of Football held last week at the Hopwood Junior High School Field, Northern Mariana Islands Football Association is eyeing to have 1,000 kids join the biennial event next year.

“With the success we had in the recent festival and with more and more kids joining and enjoying the sport of football, we are looking to have 1,000 kids participating in next year’s festivities,” NMIFA president Jerry Tan said.

The festival had friendly games in the U6, U8, U10, U12, and U15 age groups with matches starting as early as 8am through mid-afternoon.

The festival is patterned after Asian Football Confederation’s Grassroots and Youth Program, which encourages officials, coaches, and players towards good sportsmanship and a fair play code of behavior.

“We started the festival early last year and from 50 kids, we now have more than 200. It is really encouraging to see many kids showing interest in football and their parents supporting them all the way,” Tan added.

To lure more youth to join football, Tan said NMIFA through the help of private companies and individuals will continue to donate equipment and conduct clinics next year.

During Saturday’s recognition ceremony, NMIFA donated 15 pairs of shin guards to each of the four youth clubs on Saipan. MP United, Matansa FC, Independent FC, and Paire FC also received six pairs of goalkeeper gloves.

NMIFA also had set up goals in various school fields replacing wooden goals used by some schools.

Tan said for the past three years, NMIFA had spent $20,000 for building goals in various field.

“This (having goals) is the best way to encourage kids to go out on the field and play. Balls are east to find by borrowing from other players, but for goals, you need a standard one to keep the players safe,” the NMIFA president said.

Aside from donating equipment to clubs and school teams, NMIFA being a regular member of the East Asian Football Federation will be able to provide timely clinics for coaches/teachers.

“Being a member of EAFF allows us to seek help from EAFF as far as educating our coaches with new techniques and other innovation in the sport through seminars and clinics,” Tan said.

Meanwhile, NMIFA thanked the following for supporting the weekend’s festivities: Triple J Wholesale, Subway, American Red Cross, NMI Chapter, Tan Holdings, Saipan Grand Hotel, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, PTI, and TakeCare.