While young players continue to sharpen their skills in football, private businesses also never ran out of something to support the islands’ growing football family.
Paire Football Club, one of the core teams that play in the NMI Football Association’s annual youth league punctuates the seasons with weekly practice sessions.
Paire FC General Secretary and Treasurer Becca Newman said in an email that members of the club’s U10 (10 years old and under) and U13 continue to meet every Tuesday for the summer program—an initiative of CNMI Men’s National Team player, Arkie Resoura and youth football coaches, Brenda Schultz and Glenn Jewell.
The practice sessions are held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at San Vicente Elementary School.
The program, Newman said will continue until the end of July.
She added that coach Steve McKagan has also been working with the U18 boys and girls, and the adult women’s teams during a weekly Saturday morning at airport field.
“The Paire FC board members see this summer as just a start to future programs that the club plans to hold to develop youth football,” Newman said.
Generosity
The football family’s program for youth, Newman said was made possible with the generous supports of the club’s sponsors—NTT Docomo Pacific and Bridge Capital, LLC, a local financial services company.
That is why on behalf of the club, Paire FC President, Patricia Coleman thanks the sponsors for the much-needed resources to develop the young boys and girls of the club.
“At Paire, we believe that financial challenges should not determine whether or not a child can play the sport. Every member of the Paire family wants to use the beautiful game of football to make a positive impact on the lives of the children we coach, and in the broader sense, the community at large,” Coleman stated.
When NTT Docomo sales representative James Lee handed Coleman a $5,000 check he told her how excited Docomo was to sponsor a strong youth development program.
Bridge Capital, Newman said was also attracted to the club because of its commitment to the children.
Paire FC board member Brenda Schutlz is also impressed with the turn out of the summer programs. She attributes it to the hard work of the coaches and sponsors.
“We appreciate the financial support of Docomo and Bridge Capital because it allows every child in our club to play and develop. We also appreciate our volunteer coaches for being great role models for our players,” Schultz said.
