Seven soccer coaches, backrow, join NMI Football Association officials for a group photo during the closing ceremony of the NMIFA “B” Diploma Coaching Course at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Saturday.
Visiting Coach Hide Takashi, center, poses with NMI Football Association officials at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
SEVEN individuals have completed the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association “B” Diploma Coaching Course, which was held from Jan.15 to 20 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
The seven are Russelle Zapanta, Martin Jambor, Ronnel Ocanada, Christopher Aninzo, Jude Bischoff and Ralph Awa.
The course was conducted under the Asian Football Confederation Coaching Convention, which is one of the programs of the Asian Football Confederation. The program aims to improve the level of coaching through progressive education and practical experience. Through the program, member associations like the NMIFA can develop better players, improve the quality of teams, and raise the standard of football throughout the region.
A member association can only offer the course if it meets stringent criteria under the Asian Football Confederation Coaching Convention rules and regulations. These include having accredited coach education tutors such as Michiteru Mita, Angie Ito and Jersh Angeles.
On Saturday, the seven individuals who completed the course were recognized during an appreciation and closing ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.
“This is our first time offering this course, a critical first step toward the NMIFA’s goal of raising the standard of coaching on the island,” NMI Coach Michiteru Mita said.
“I encourage the coaches to pass on their knowledge to their players and their fellow coaches. This program involves investment and return,” he added.
“We invest in coaches that have the passion and dedication to bring NMI football to the next level, and in return, we hope to see coaches continue their commitment to the program and help develop better players and better teams,” Mita said.
NMIFA President Jerry Tan, for his part, congratulated the seven coaches for completing the course.
“It takes a lot of hard work and commitment on your part to get to this point,” he said. “This course supports the NMIFA’s efforts in expanding our coaching capacity and improving our coaching level to meet the growing needs of NMI football.”
He added, “When we started the program, one of our challenges was to recruit players. Today, we have a lot of players and as the program continues to grow, we really need qualified and knowledgeable coaches to guide our players.”
“We would also like to thank the Asian Football Confederation for the approval and endorsement of the NMIFA ‘B’ Diploma Coaching Course as it gives us the opportunity and the tools to continue to educate our coaches,” Tan said.
Guest speaker
Hide Takahashi, the head coach of the Bhutan Football Association’s U20 national team, visited Saipan on Jan. 11 to 18 as a Japanese Football Association dispatched coach and pro license holder to observe NMI football. He was also a guest speaker for the “B” coaching course.
He said Bhutan, a South Asian country situated in the Eastern Himalayas, shares a similar environment with Saipan, adding that the heat is one of the major factors in a player’s overall performance.
While on island, he had the opportunity to watch the boys high school division championships of the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League.
“The midfielders are very good because of their ball control and sudden change of speed and pace, but they lack height — the same situation in Bhutan,” Takahashi said.
He added that local players “have great football mentality but the heat affects their stamina.”
He said better coordination and agility will greatly improve the local players’ skills. But he also emphasized that one must have fun while playing.
