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CNMI gets fairplay award in Guam
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Posted on Mar 16 2009
The CNMI Men’s Football Team did not return to Saipan empty-handed after taking home the Fairplay Award in the East Asian Football Championship 2010 Preliminary Competition which concluded Sunday at the Leo Palace Resort in Guam.
The CNMI was the only non-FIFA ranked squad that played in the EAFF qualifier, but held its ground against eventual winner Guam, Mongolia, and Macau.
The CNMI strikers scored in all three games with Joe Miller, team captain Peter Loken, and Nick Swaim credited for one goal each.
Other members of the team are Evan Hunsberger, Yoshi Gabaldon, David Duenas, Brad Ruszala, Steve McKagan, Ben Wood, Gilmark Reusora, Jeffrey Cloud, Peter Houk, Dale Roberts, Jason Schroeder, Lucas Knecht, Bradley Brostrom, Daniel Macario, Jose Duenas, Chris Nelson, and Norman Camacho.
“We may have not won the tournament, but winning the Fairplay Award is kind of rewarding for all the hard work our players showed in the tournament. They knew they are the underdogs here, but they never gave up, and almost tied the match against Guam. They showed tremendous discipline and dedication, which are very important in a team that is just starting to grow,” CNMI coach Sugao Kambe said.
“We could have tied Guam in the second half, but our players just could not get the breaks. Nevertheless, we put up a good fight, scoring in all three games, and that’s quite an achievement for an inexperienced team like us,” Kambe added.
The final standings in the preliminary competition showed Guam on top with a 2-0-1 win-loss-draw record for seven points. Guam tied Macau in a crucial game, 2-2. Had Macau won, there could have been a three-way tie for the top spot. But Macau ended in third with a 1-1-1 slate for four points, while Mongolia placed second with its 2-1 record for six points.
Guam’s midfielder Jason Ryan Cunliffe was adjudged MVP of the tournament, while teammate Bret Simon Maluwelmen was named best goalie.
The Best Defender Award went to Mongolia’s Munkhbat Chimeddorj, while Chan Kin Seng of Macau emerged as top scorer with four goals.
Guam advanced to the semifinal round, which will be played in Tainan Taiwan and will also feature teams from Chinese-Taipei, China, and Hong Kong.
