{"id":279420,"date":"2018-07-05T06:04:36","date_gmt":"2018-07-04T20:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=279420"},"modified":"2018-07-05T06:04:36","modified_gmt":"2018-07-04T20:04:36","slug":"another-soccer-pitch-eyed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/another-soccer-pitch-eyed\/","title":{"rendered":"Another soccer pitch eyed"},"content":{"rendered":"
Players and officials of local football clubs line up on the field during the opening of the Northern Mariana Islands Soccerr Training Center in Koblerville last Tuesday night. (Jon Perez)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The CNMI will have another pitch as the government has designated an additional property that Northern Mariana Islands Football Association will use to build a facility.<\/p>\n

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, in his remarks in last Tuesday night\u2019s opening ceremony of the state-of-the-art NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville, said this was only the beginning of the government\u2019s partnership with the NMIFA through the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not going to end today. This is only the beginning. We\u2019ve talked to [DCCA] Sec. Robert [Hunter], whose doing a great job, and we\u2019re contributing and giving you the additional property you need to fulfill the other pitch. I know we\u2019re working on that. The papers and documentaries should be forthcoming,\u201d said Torres.<\/p>\n

The property is just beside the newly opened training center.<\/p>\n

The governor then urged the public, especially the players, to protect the facility. \u201cThis facility is yours and it\u2019s going to be here for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alex Sablan, president of the new club Fiesta FC and host of the opening ceremony, said the designated land is beside the main pitch. \u201cThis is for an additional pitch that we will be working and moving forward soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Torres told Saipan Tribune that they would follow the same process when they first designated a land for the newly built soccer facility\u2014that has a main pitch, one mini pitch, offices, bleachers, and ample parking area. Both the main and mini pitches have artificial turfs with the latter can be used for two five-a-side matches and one nine-a-side. The main pitch is reserved for 11-a-side games and training sessions by the CNMI national teams.<\/p>\n

The Department of Public Lands, before the construction of the soccer facility, designated the property to DCCA, which then partnered with NMIFA to build the project.<\/p>\n

Torres praised the NMIFA for turning the area to a facility that would also benefit the people from the village of Koblerville. \u201cLook at this, this is a perfect partnership with the government. We gave them land and they provided us with this kind of facility.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust looking around, this is an awesome facility. Congratulations to Jerry, Alex Sablan, and the whole organization. Congratulations too, to Koblerville in having this kind of facility in the village,\u201d added Torres, who lives just two blocks away from the center.<\/p>\n

Hunter, for his part, said the facility would bring growth to Koblerville\u2014a village that has had faced a lot of challenges, especially among its youth. <\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Koblerville and this area has faced many challenges. But with this facility here, it would create a lot of opportunities for the people of the village and activities that would promote healthy living for the youth and open other business opportunities that would benefit the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Torres said the center would also help NMIFA reach its goal of having more than 3,000 registered players. \u201c[Currently] there are more than 1,300 players, 55 teams, and nine clubs. That is just amazing with the families gathering here in a healthy environment. Why shouldn\u2019t we give the NMIFA another property?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause we see progress, this is progress and they are about action as well. I congratulate the organization and the players. In order for us to reach the goal of 3,000 players, we need another soccer pitch. So, I look forward to giving them the property and moving forward to make more dreams a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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