\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the CNMI U19 National Team pose for a photo during a send-off ceremony at the lobby of Kanoa Resort last Saturday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nThe U14 crew, which left Saipan yesterday, is headed to Beijing, China for the AFC U14 Regional Festival of Football that will run from Sept. 7 to 14, while the U16 and U19 teams will travel later this week to Laos and Thailand, respectively. The CNMI\u2019s U16 players will participate in the AFC U16 Championship India 2016 Qualifiers in Vientiane from Sept. 12 to 20, while the oldest squad will join the AFC U19 Championship Bahrain 2016 Qualifiers in Bangkok from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4.<\/p>\nIt is the first time in NMIFA\u2019s 10 years of existence that the federation is fielding teams in three successive tournaments in a month and for this year alone, five CNMI squads (including the girls U14 team and the CNMI Women\u2019s All-Stars) have earned the chance to compete off-island. Another team composed of U13 players is heading to another regional tournament later this year.<\/p>\n
With these developments, Izuka can\u2019t help but looked back at CNMI football and NMIFA\u2019s humble beginnings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were the newcomers in 2006 with teams curious about our players when we played in an EAFF (East Asian Football Federation) tournament as a guest squad,\u201d said Izuka, adding that back then the CNMI team from the fledgling NMIFA had players with raw talent and as expected lost all its games in China.<\/p>\n
From being a guest team, the CNMI went on to regularly compete in EAFF-sanctioned events and in the last three or four years, the Commonwealth has also been invited to join AFC competitions. In these tournaments, CNMI players did not only show significant improvement, but also recorded wins that earned them respect from their counterparts in EAFF and AFC.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe made significant progress in the last 10 years through many defeats, tribulation, and several victories. Thanks to coaches, parents, NMIFA and its officials, our supporters in the international football community and to our football clubs\u2014the backbone of our youth program,\u201d Izuka said.<\/p>\n
With these accomplishments and another opportunity to compete in off-island tournaments, Izuka challenged the three teams to play their best, be good ambassadors of the CNMI, and always work as a team.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are very lucky to enjoy this opportunity, \u201c added Izuka, who noted how NMIFA president Jerry Tan and his team worked hard to give this kind of chance to a small island like the CNMI.<\/p>\n
For his part, Tan said having three teams competing in an AFC event is a fitting gift for NMIFA\u2019s 10th anniversary celebration this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not easy to get invitations from these tournaments. This year, we have six teams competing or 100 to 120 players joining tournaments outside Saipan. However, it\u2019s not all about competition. It is also about exposure, exposure for our players, for them to be able to develop their skills more as they get to play in different competitions. The more invitation we get, the more exposure we will have and the more our players will be committed to the program,\u201d the NMIFA head said.<\/p>\n
Tan added that in the U19 tournament, some players from teams the CNMI will be facing are future World Cup players or have already been selected to play for their respective national teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat makes us (NMIFA) very happy because our players get to play against people who are in the national team or World Cup level. Our players can learn a lot from watching how their opponents play,\u201d Tan said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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