

NMIFA inaugurates 2nd regulation-size pitch; governor donates $750,000
THE Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, along with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, on Saturday inaugurated the NMI Soccer Training Center’s second phase project: a second regulation-size soccer pitch. “Exactly 52 months ago, if I remember correctly, it was July 2nd, 2018 — that was almost four months before Typhoon Yutu unfortunately — we opened the new pitch,” NMIFA President Jerry Tan said. “Today, you're looking at not just the restoration of the first phase but the newl


Kanoa, MPU lead Intermediate B Division of Dove Women’s League
THE Kanoa Football Club slipped past the Matansa Football Club, 1-0, in the Intermediate B Division of the Dove Women’s League Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
Kanoa’s aggressive approach worked in their favor as they constantly went for the “kill” and gradually wore down Matansa’s line of defense.
After 14 minutes of back-and-forth action, Kanoa was finally rewarded by Hannah Santos’ goal to grasp the lead, 1-0.
Kanoa then prioritized defense while M


Tan Holdings shuts down Paire 4-0
THE Tan Holdings Football Club gunned down the Paire Football Club, 4-0, in a Division A game of the Marianas Soccer League Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. Tan Holdings performed steadily from start to finish, picking their shots carefully. They were also quick on their feet with Brandon Tenorio slicing through the cracks of Paire’s defensive line and finding the back of the net just two minutes into the match. Paire prevented more shots from gettin


Second regular soccer pitch opens
Four years after the opening of the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville, an additional second regular pitch was inaugurated Saturday afternoon and was immediately put into use in a game between the U6 teams of MP United FC and Kanoa Football Club. The new pitch mirrors the regular-sized pitch built in Phase 1, which is an artificial 80 x 120-yard grass turf with under drainage, team benches with clear covers, and lighting. The pitch was part of the Northern Mariana Isl


Old B Bank banks first win
Old B Bank deposited their first win of the season against WNT Developmental Team, 7-1, last Friday during the Marianas Soccer League Fall 2022 Division B game at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. The men made their way slowly through the season but have now found their groove after their first goal in the 10th minute made by Kosuke Sato. He opened up the playing field for his teammates as he completed the hat-trick and was backed up by a goal from James Garcia a


Shaikh Salman reaffirms support to NMIFA
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation, met with Jerry Tan, president of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, here in Malaysia’s capital last Tuesday, Oct. 25. After their membership application was granted by the 30th AFC Congress in December 2020, NMIFA became the newest member of the AFC and the Asian football family, bringing the AFC’s membership to a total of 47, distributed over the vast c


Paire FC slips past Shirley’s FC in women’s soccer
Paire Football Club slipped past Shirley’s Football Club, 3-1, in Week 2 of the Flores-Pee Luwal (Intermediate) Division A in the 2022 Dove Women’s League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. Time ticked by in the first half as the ladies tried to navigate the ball through the field, with Vina Seelam’s shot ringing in the 13th minute for Paire and just a minute later, Seelam shot it in once more for an early 2-0 Paire lead. While Paire had their foo


TanHoldings rules Kanoa in men’s soccer
TanHoldings Football Club ruled Kanoa Football Club, 6-2, in the continuation of the Marianas Soccer League Fall 2022 Division A game last Oct. 16 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. The first goal was rattled in the 13th minute as Jireh Yobech cut through the keeper to score for TanHoldings. Minutes went by as both teams traversed the field with no goals until the 32nd minute by Kanoa’s Brian Lubao to tie the game up. Yobech found the ball under his feet once m


Matansa FC thumps WNT Development Team in MSL
Matansa Football Club beat the WNT Development Team, 8-2, in the Marianas Soccer League Fall Season 2022 Division B game last Oct, 14 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
Gabriel Arkoh Jr. busted the game open two minutes in and scored the first goal for Matansa. The WNT tried to set up for a counter attack but were rejected throughout the first half as they were unable to score. Meanwhile, two more goals were made in the first half by Dylan Mister to put Matansa


Matansa U13 boys wins 1st game of youth soccer league
Matansa Football Club U13 boys redeemed themselves in their Week 4 match against Shirley’s FC by silencing them, 5-0, for their first win in the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Fall 2022 last Saturday at the Northern Mariana Islands Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. They bounced back from their loss against MPU Blue in Week 3 and came into this game with renewed vigor, finding the back of the net just two minutes into the game, made by Yutaka Kadokura. Shirley’s attempts at