Caleb, one of the U14 team members who demonstrated a never-surrender spirit during last month’s East Asian Football Federation Youth Festival in Guam, teamed up with Jack Thoensaket and NMI women team’s Brenda Schultz.
The 13-year-old goal keeper of NMI U14 played in one of the 13 teams of players chosen at random from different skills and age levels, which according NMIFA Woman’s Committee Chair Lindsey Davis is very important to balance the teams’ overall skill.
They, however settled for second place after the final match against Swaim, Meaghan Hassel-Shearer and Claire Brostrom who won, 4-3.
Arriola and his team mates scored their way to the final match, and Schultz whose shot attempts could not seem to miss was awarded the tournaments MVP.
The third place winner was the solid team of Lar Wonapanya, Zoe Jewell and Scott Hayden, and fourth place was secured by the team of Archie Rausora, Amber Roberts and Peter Bonser.
The NMIFA Women’s Committee hosted the tournament with the eight-minute games going in round robin at the two fields approximately a quarter the size of a normal pitch.
“We all had a lot of fun, 3v3 is much faster and more intense even though the games are shorter” said Becca Newman, a veteran Woman’s National Team player.
NMIFA Women’s Committee member, Laura Williams in a press statement said she supports football and events like this where there is a lot of camaraderie and good sportsmanship.
“It’s supposed to be fun and we would like to bring more people out to participate in football either during tournaments or league play. It is a great sport for the whole family and we have many families that participate together,” Williams said.
The tournament, the NMIFA press release said was made possible by the generous donations from sponsors, which include Tan Holdings, PTI, Palms Resort, PIC and the NMIFA.
The NMIFA Women’s Committee extends its gratitude and appreciation for these sponsors’ commitment to the community and women’s sports. The committee would also like to thank Whispering Palms School and the Department of Lands and Natural Resources’ Parks and Recreation Division for the use of the football facility.
The NMIFA said the tournament raised enough funds to purchase much needed equipment for the upcoming Women’s Futsal league in in October.
