The NMI’s Markus Toves, rights, steps in to keep up with a Guam player during the second game in the Marianas Football Cup 2023 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. Toves is suiting up anew for the NMI when they take on Guam in this weekend’s Marianas Football Cup 2024.
(NMIFA) — The NMI and Guam’s rivalry on the pitch unfolds once again as the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association hosts the Marianas Football Cup 2024 this weekend at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
The NMI and Guam’s Men’s U20 National Teams will square off in a two-leg series with the first match schedule for this Saturday, August 3, and the second and final one set for Sunday, August 4. Kickoff for both games is at 6 p.m.
The last time the NMI and Guam men’s squads were pitted against each other in the Marianas Cup, the NMI clinched the crown after topping the two-game series with an aggregate score of 3-1. Guam prevailed in Game 1 of the men’s U23 division duel, 1-0, but the NMI came back big time in Game 2, 3-0, to take its first Marianas Cup men’s title since the inception of the event in 2007.
The NMI players hope to ride on the momentum of their 2023 win and the home pitch advantage to make it back-to-back against Guam. The NMI Men’s U20 National Team competing this weekend is made up of Mark Chavez, Akoni Matsumoto, Leo Takahashi, Casey Chambers, Cody Shimizu, Andrew Sablan, Dev Bachani, Leland Deleon Guerrero, Nolan Ngewakl, Markus Toves, Ariel Narvaez, Edward Arriola III, Ruben Guerrero, Anthony Bergancia, Wataru Kadokura, Daniell Pablo, Anthony Austria, Tyler Omelau, Monico Claridades, and Paul Lizama. Konomi Suzuki is the head coach, while Jershwin Angeles (assistant coach), Jireh Yobech (assistant coach/team manager), Merrick Toves (goalkeeper coach), and Hazel Mabasa (physiotherapist) complete the team.
“We have several players from last year’s winning team coming back this year, so they definitely have the experience playing in this special tournament. The first game will be a big test for us and will show how the team is progressing since we started preparing for the Marianas Cup and also the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers,” Suzuki said.
“We will take it one game at a time and whatever results we will have for the opening game, the mindset of the players is do their best every time they are on the pitch and also adjust to situations of the match. We have two games and we need everyone to show their best effort,” the NMI head coach added.
Guam is also aiming to showcase what they have been practicing in preparations for the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers and put out their best performance possible. Guam is in Group A of the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers that Vietnam will be hosting late September this year, while the NMI is in Group C and will be traveling to Kuwait. Guam’s Men’s U20 National Team for the Marianas Cup 2024 is made up of Shuntaro Suzuki, Josiah Jones, Renzel Reburiano, Gavin Baker, Giacomo Bustamante, Nicolas Chargualaf, Landen Diaz, Aldryn Ednaco, Micah Elwell, Sean Halehale, Curtis Harmon, Matthew Hodgins, Luciano Jameson, Takayuki Kobayashi, Mason Manibusan, Nicholas Moore, Donovan Moss, Beau Perez, C.J. Sablan, and Samuel Stenson. Dominic Gadia is the head coach and will be assisted by Michael Milner and goalkeeper coach Jeroen Bos. Also part of the Guam Football Association delegation are team manager Vance Manibusan, and physiotherapist Ryan Claros.
