MP United caps summer youth camp

MP United Football Club concluded its seven-day summer youth camp with a couple of scrimmages yesterday at the Garapan Elementary School field.

The camp, which started on June 29 and continued on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday last week, and last Monday and Wednesday, drew players in the U10 to U18 age groups.

Many time CNMI National Team member Nick Swaim was the camp coach with former MP United players Lucas Knecht and Bo Barry assisting him. Women’s National Team members Katie Peters and Carrie Schuler also helped out in the clinic.

Swaim and the two other youth players, who are on island to play for the CNMI Team that will participate in the EAFF Asian Cup 2013 Preliminary Competition Round 1, conducted two sessions per each day of the camp. The morning session from 8am to 10am was for the players in U10 to U13 age group, while 1pm to 3pm slot one was U13 to U18.

“As coach Nick allowed up to a 22-player class size, the club opened the camp to participants from other clubs in addition to MP United players. We have about 19 in the younger group and 12 in the older group. The sessions focused on different drills and skill building and tactics, especially in the older group,” MP United official Vickie Izuka said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

Swaim in a short interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday said he liked what he saw on the players who attended the camp.

“It is nice to be back and see more youth talents here now. Four years ago, CNMI youths are just starting to learn the game. Now, there are many good players, their skills have improved a lot,” Swaim said.

“I just wish they will continue playing and improving their skills. They should keep practicing what they have learned from the camp,” he added.

Meanwhile, MP United would like to thank Garapan Elementary School, IT&E, and Konflikt for making the summer camp possible.

“The administrators at GES have been so helpful. They allowed us to use the field and assisted us in a cultural exchange with some Japanese youth visiting from our sister club Vivid Blue. We are so grateful for all of these special people,” Izuka said.

“Camp sponsors include IT&E and Konflikt Clothing. We are so grateful to these sponsors as they continue to support our club’s missions to develop youth through organization, training, and education, and teach teamwork, leadership, and responsibility,” she added.