{"id":401347,"date":"2023-11-15T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=401347"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"NMI-nat-l-soccer-teams-off-to-Solomons-and-China","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/NMI-nat-l-soccer-teams-off-to-Solomons-and-China\/","title":{"rendered":"NMI nat\u2019l soccer teams off to Solomons and China"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Northern Mariana Islands Football Federation held a joint sendoff ceremony for the first time for its men\u2019s and women\u2019s national soccer team on Wednesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s national team is on its way to the Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands today and is competing against Oceania teams for the first time.<\/p>\n

They are in Group C of the 12-team football competition that will run from Nov. 17 to Dec. 2, 2023. They will first go up against Fiji on Nov. 18, then Tahiti on Nov. 24.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s national team, on the other hand, is heading to Zhuhai, China for the Women\u2019s EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2024, which is going to be held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 8.<\/p>\n

They will first take on Mongolia on Nov. 30, then Hong Kong on Dec. 2, and North Korea on Dec. 4.<\/p>\n

The ceremony was attended by NMIFA president Jerry Tan, NMIFA Executive Committee members Catherine Attao-Toves, Alex Sablan, and Associate Judge Wesley Bogdan, Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan), and family and friends of the teams.<\/p>\n

Tan congratulated both teams and said how proud he is of the teams\u2019 commitment. He acknowledged that the NMI is debuting against Oceania teams but said they shouldn\u2019t think it\u2019ll be easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to wish both teams good luck. Enjoy Solomon Islands and enjoy Zhu Hai\u2026 most importantly, enjoy the experience, do your best, have good sportsmanship. We know you\u2019ll really fight for our flag,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For Attao-Toves, she told the women\u2019s team, \u201cWe\u2019re really excited to see how you\u2019ll do. You\u2019ve put in so much work for the past couple years, and I know you guys will get great results. Just continue to do your best, play with all your heart, and I know you always represent us well.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the men\u2019s team, she said, \u201cI\u2019m truly honored to be a part of your delegation\u2026 you guys are going to be the ones to set the tone in the Pacific Games and with our Oceania neighbors. So definitely, I know you\u2019re going to do well. Let\u2019s go get them and let\u2019s go NMI.\u201d<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s national team consists of Jerald Aquino, Anthony Bergancia, Dev Bachani, Casey Chambers, Mark Chavez, Mark Costales, Leland Deleon Guerrero, Ruben Guerrero, Akira Kadokura, Wataru Kadokura, Davy Laxa, Zhi Xiang Lin, Brian Lubao, Ariel Narvaez, Jonne Navarro, Nolan Ngewakl, Ronnel Ocanada, Daniell Pablo, Tyler Omelau, Cody Shimizu, Markus Toves, Merrick Toves, Konomi Suzuki, and Jireh Yobech. Accompanying them are head coach Michiteru Mita, assistant coach Konomi Suzuki, team manager Jershwin Angeles, assistant team manager Attao-Toves, kit manager Davy Laxa, and physical therapist Hazel Mabasa.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s national team includes Katrina Costales, Mia Abuan, Christina Atalig, Jannah Casarino, Andrei Chavez, Julie Chavez, Bernadette Horey, Khristelle Itaas, Tamia Kileleman-Hix, Tyana Kileleman-Hix, Summer Manahane, Kelsey McClellan, Deseha Mendiola, Pia Ngewakl, Dianne Pablo, Sophia Quintos, Gabrielle Race, Guinevere Borja, Britany Wally, and Rizza Relucio. Accompanying them are head coach Luam Khen Koo, assistant coach Kwok Kei Poon, manager Mikky Vargas, assistant manager Yu Hung Lee, assistant coach Mae Ito, and physiotherapist Pamela Carhill.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The men’s national soccer team heading to the Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands, and the women’s national soccer team heading to Zhuhai, China for the Women\u2019s EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2024, pose for a photo with dignitaries, and NMIFA president Jerry Tan and executive committee members during the send off ceremony at the NMI Soccer Training Center on Monday.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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