The newly formed NMI Under 14 national football team is getting all the support they need as NMIFA prepares them for the East Asian Football Federation Under 14 Youth Festival 2008 that will be held on Guam next month.
Betty Johnson, mother of 11-year-old Andrew Johnson have not missed her son’s practice since they started a few weeks ago after getting through series of tryouts.
Aside from driving him to the training ground in San Antonio Elementary School field, Mrs. Johnson also practices with Andrew at home.
She coaches her son’s team, the Marianas Pacific—one of the youth clubs organized by the NMIFA for children.
Mrs. Johnson also played in the recently concluded Women’s Recreational Football Spring League with Marianas Spectacular Blues that won fourth place.
“I make sure he gets enough sleep and eat the right food and try not to miss any of his practice schedules,” she said.
Yasuko Joyner, mother of Jehn Joyner and Jiann, sister were always around during practice.
However, they don’t put too much pressure on Jehn. As they can see, Jehn loves to play and he is enjoying the practice very much.
Misaki Cramer’s parents were also present during yesterday’s practice and they said they join him doing the joggle exercise at home.
The parents said they feed Misaki good food and try to help him have fun with what he’s doing.
Coach Nick Swaim said the boys play excellent and demonstrating great attitude during practice.
The NMI Under 14 team will be leaving for Guam on July 4 may not have time to witness or join the Liberation Day celebration, to compete in the EAF Youth Festival.
They will be facing Macau in the morning of July 6 then, People’s Republic of China in the afternoon.
On July 7, they will play People’s Republic of Korea in the morning and Hongkong in the afternoon.
With less than a month to go, Swain said they are all working it out to bring up the boys into a winning team and “hopefully they will represent CNMI very well.”
Yesterday, the boys wore their uniforms for the first to have their group photograph with Swaim, manager, Peter Coleman and equipment manager John Ravell.
“Everybody has done a great job in the practice,” he said.
