LET’S TALK ABOUT COLLEGE AND SOCCER

The Northern Mariana Islands Football Association hosted a forum dubbed “Let’s Talk College and Soccer” for the NMI national team pool players last Tuesday, January 4, at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Guinevere Borja, Sunjoon Tenorio, and Joshua Abragan, who played for the NMI national team and now are competing in the collegiate level, were the presenters at the forum. They shared their personal experience in college as students and players, how they made it to the team, and the challenges they are facing trying to balance academics and sports. Borja played for Navarro College for two seasons and will next suit up for Oklahoma Panhandle State University, while from Suffolk University, Tenorio is now with Warner Pacific University. Abragan, on the other hand, is part of the Boise State University Soccer Club.

The forum, which was attended by more than 50 players from the NMI national men’s, women’s and youth team pool, NMIFA president Jerry Tan and the national team coaching staff led by head coach Michiteru Mita, also featured a Q & A portion. Female player Pia Ngewakl said the presenters’ information were full of insights as these will help her work on the things she needs to prepare when she moves forward with her plan to play in the collegiate level. Jeremiah Diaz, a member of the NMI U18 national team pool, said seeing more NMI players having the opportunity to play soccer and study at the same time is very encouraging for him and other aspiring players from such a small island like the Marianas.

Published by NMIFA (FB) - January 7, 2022