By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

A week after earning slots on the NMI Men’s National Football Team, members of the squad proved their worth winning against the Bangladesh men’s team, 5-2, last Sunday in a scrimmage at the Oleai Sports Complex.
The NMI Men’s Nationals were named on October 9, a week after they claimed their first exhibition game against FC Arirang, 4-2. The Thais first challenged coach Jason Higgins’ wards with the former winning, 3-2.
After two scrimmages and more than a month of conducting tryouts, Higgins named 17 strikers to the NMI Men’s Nationals squad.
The list includes Peter Houk, Yoshi Gabaldon, Aaron Lewis, Brad Ruszala, Lucas Knecht, Michael Thomas, David Duenas, Bruce Berline, Mark McDonald, Chris Leon Guerrero, Peter Loken, Norman Camacho, Steve McKagan, Greg Borja, Arkie Reusora, Choz Yongwoon and Henry Yang.
The NMI Men’s Nationals made the grade in their first game as a team with Houk, Guerrero, Yongwoon, Reusora and Loken scoring one goal apiece.
Houk was named Man of the Match after scoring a goal and giving two assists.
“The Men’s National Team continues to make small improvements in offseason training,” said Higgins, who is using the scrimmages against various men’s clubs on the island to prepare them for the Marianas Cup.
The Marianas Cup is set for spring next year with the NMI Men’s Nationals facing Guam.
The NMI Men’s Nationals will have two more exhibition matches before the month ends.
This Sunday, they will take on the Inter-dependents at the Oleai field at 4 p.m.
On Oct. 28, the Men’s Nationals will challenge the Saipan All-Star Team, which is composed of players selected from various men’s clubs.
The Saipan All-Stars and the Men’s Nationals will collide anew on Nov. 4 at the same venue at 4 p.m.