By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

ASIDE from continuing with their preparations for the Women’s Recreational Football League, experienced female players will have a new interest when they tryout for the CNMI National women’s team.
Women’s league coordinator Brenda Schultz said she is accepting registrations for the national team with the eligibility requirements being that the player holds a US passport or is a US citizen and has lived in the CNMI for six months.
They will start the team’s practice sessions today and will continue until the arrival of the coach from Wright State.
Schultz said with the help of men’s league coordinator Vince Stravino they found a coach who volunteered to help them train before going up against Guam.
The coach will arrive on Feb. 7 and will join them immediately to start the training sessions. The coach will make the cuts for the national team.
“The (Northern Mariana Islands Football Association) board has worked on it and we thank Jerry Tan, Sue Knecht, Vicky Izuka and Vince Stravino for all their help,” said Schultz.
Schultz held the team’s first meeting to which 12 candidates showed up last week at Whispering Palms School. “We are hoping we could get a descent size so we can also have a pool of players.”
She said that a field shortage is an obstacle that they are facing right now. “As of now there are no available fields that are of regulation size for the games but I believe we will overcome this challenge.”
Schultz said they are in talks with the Division of Sports and Recreation on how can they use the Susupe Sports Complex field for their training.
She added that a selection of players from the four participating teams last season will go to Guam on Feb. 10 to play against their national team in a seven-on-seven recreational game.
Female players met again last Saturday for another training session conducted by Livingston, Becca Rath and Divya Sharma.
They ran participants through basic drills to prepare them for the coming season.
Schultz reminded interested female players that the signup is still open and the final day of registration will be Feb. 17 when the coaches will do the team drawing under the supervision of an NMIFA board member. The players need not be present during the drawing and this will be the final roster for the season.
With the theme “Where everyone makes the team”, the boot camp is open to women 14-years-old and above with a desire to learn how to play soccer. No experience is necessary and all interested players are welcome.
Players need to bring water, shin guards, athletic shoes and comfortable clothing.
The registration will take place simultaneously with the boot camp. The cost of registration is $25 which covers the insurance, uniform and use of the NMIFA equipment.
The team practices will begin on Feb. 21. The practice sessions will be held every Wednesday and Saturday until the league opens on March 10.
Fifty-one women have already registered and paid for the Spring League. Schultz and the NMIFA board are expecting more will sign up as the Feb. 17 deadline for registration nears.