Michiteru Mita smiles as he watches a video tribute in his honor during a farewell luncheon hosted by the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Saturday
MITCHITERU Mita, the NMI’s national soccer team head coach and technical director, was honored by the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association in a farewell luncheon at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Saturday.
Mita played a pivotal role in advancing the NMIFA and its programs throughout his seven years on Saipan.
These included the development of NMIFA’s 5-Year Youth Development Plan.
Mita crafted a comprehensive guide for NMIFA and member clubs, outlining the progression of youth players from the U6 to the U18 divisions.
He also established a systematic approach to monitor and evaluate the development of youth players while fostering the growth of football on island.
In addition, Mita spearheaded the establishment of NMIFA’s Grassroots Charter. He documented and developed NMIFA’s grassroots program and sought official recognition from the Asian Football Confederation so that the NMI could qualify for technical and financial support.
Moreover, Mita formulated and documented NMIFA’s coaching development process. He created a pathway for the training and certification of local coaches, ensuring accreditation by AFC; and fostered the growth of coaching expertise within the association.
His continuous work also led to the introduction of NMIFA’s Coaching Incentive Program, which offered financial incentives and technical support to club coaches.
Mita likewise facilitated the improvement of coaching qualifications at the club level, and helped establish a clear pathway for coaches’ certification.
Mita will also be remembered for significantly contributing to the enhancement of the NMI’s national teams by implementing an effective year-round training program, and bringing the national teams to a level comparable to Guam’s.
He successfully collaborated with the Japan Football Association, and secured technical and financial support for training camps that were held in Japan, which further elevated the capabilities of the NMI’s national teams.
NMIFA said these are just a few of Mita’s many contributions since he arrived on Saipan in Feb. 2017.
“Having Mita in the NMI was a game-changer for NMI football,” NMIFA President Jerry Tan said. “The programs he devised and implemented and the football culture he built here helped us close the gap with other nations that have football history that’s way longer than us.”
Tan said the Asian Football Confederation and the East Asia Football Federation recognized the significant improvement of NMI football, thanks to the programs Mita helped develop.
“I am deeply grateful to NMIFA and the NMI football community for embracing me and supporting me for seven years,” Mita said. “I learned a lot during my stay here on island. I learned and appreciated how people volunteer their time and efforts in supporting the program and the youth. I am definitely open to the opportunity of returning to Saipan some day and helping NMI football again.”
Coach Mita now heads to Myanmar to be with his wife, Micheru.
