The members of the NMI U23 Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams pose for a photo after receiving the Team of the Year trophy during the 2023 Northern Marianas Sports Association Annual Awards Banquet at the Hibiscus Hall of Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Wednesday.
Coach of the Year Mitchiteru Mita delivers his remarks in a video recording that was shown during the 2023 Northern Marianas Sports Association Annual Awards Banquet at the Hibiscus Hall of Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Wednesday.
MITCHITERU Mita, who molded and guided NMI soccer players throughout his over six years of service in the Commonwealth, was named Coach of the Year during the 2023 Northern Marianas Sports Association Annual Awards Banquet at the Hibiscus Hall of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Wednesday evening.
Mita served as the NMI Football Association’s head coach and technical director for nearly seven years — the longest tenure in local soccer history.
He successfully coached the men’s national team to victory in the 2023 Marianas Cup by beating Guam. He also coached the men’s team in their first appearance in the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. Before leaving Saipan in January, Mita drafted a five-year youth development plan to ensure the continuity of the youth program.
In a video recording that was shown during the awards banquet at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Mita said: “It is really an honor to be the NMSA Coach of the Year. I would like to share this award with NMSA President Jerry Tan and NMIFA General Secretary Ross Zapanta.”
Mita also thanked the other NMI’s coaches, staff, and teams. “I wish you all the best — continue a successful soccer in the NMI as well as all the other sports in the NMI,” he said.
Other awardees
The sport of soccer netted two more awards this year.
The NMIFA’s general secretary, Ross Zapanta, was named the 2023 Administrator of the Year while the NMI U23 National Football Team was named the Team of the Year.
Zapanta has been the general secretary of NMIFA for over a decade now. He oversees the implementation of its various programs for the men’s, women’s, and youth teams as well as the PSS interscholastic competitions. He also handles the NMIFA’s communications with the East Asian Football Federation and the Asian Football Confederation as well as with local and international stakeholders.
Ross Zapanta, right, receives the Administrator of the Year trophy from Northern Marianas Sports Association General Secretary Valerie Hofschneider during the 2023 NMSA Annual Awards Banquet at the Hibiscus Hall of Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.