Greg Borja, coordinator of the football festival, said the event centers on fun where everybody is a winner.
He mentioned four football clubs gathered together to demonstrate skills and sportsmanship with their respective teams of different age groups.
Independent Football Club from Koblerville area, Matansa of San Roque, MP United of Garapan, and Paire Football Club from San Vicente fielded between two and seven teams, depending, Borja said.
The fall football fest include 6-under, 8-under, 10-under, 12-under players with separate teams for boys and girls.
Under-15 has co-ed teams that pit in the field in competitive games, in their bid to advance to a higher level of football matches under the East Asian Football Federation wherein the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association has recently become an official member.
The event also included the awarding of certificates to talented young players from the different football clubs, with Peter Coleman helping in calling on and handing over their special citations.
Coleman was the one who spearheaded the establishment of football on island. He will be leaving island soon for good.
The following are the awardees: Caleb Arriola, Devon Atalig, Bo Barry, Keoni Borja, Jathan Camacho, Mickey Coleman, Misaki Cramer, Stacy Escueta, Masami Hirai, Hunter Jewell, Andrew Johnson, Angelo Jones, Jhen Joyner, Jake Lee, Clay McCullough-Stearns, Josiah Orlando, Crosby Schultz, and Hunter Thorpe.
The recognition ceremony also awarded special token of appreciation to some of football’s personalities in CNMI – Sue Knecht, Coleman, Vince Stravino, and Brenda Shultz.
President of the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association – Michael White, NMIFA technical director & football national team coach – Nick Swaim, NMIFA staff – Sarah Brostrom and Gigi Zapanta, Commonwealth Health Center medical director – Richard Brostrom, and several others graced the festival.
