The CNMI U18 Boys National Team’s Ryan Relucio, right, is slightly warded off by a Hualien FC player as they battle for the ball during the first half of their friendly game at the Hopwood Middle School Field late last month. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
The CNMI U18 Boys National Team will leave Saipan this Sunday to participate in a soccer festival in Busan, South Korea.
“The teams that will participate in the festival are in the top youth level in Japan and Korea,” said head coach and Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director Michiteru Mita said in an interview with Saipan Tribune last Monday.
Mita, who will be assisted by Jershwin Angeles and Jonathan Takano, will bring a 20-player team to the festival. The list includes Eun Syu Hahn, Terrance Evan Thosert-Belcher, Sunjoon Tenorio, Mareko Tekopua, John Michael Rojas, Ryan Relucio, Dai Podziewski, Alex Park, Clayron Izuka, Joshua Galarion, Anthony Fruit, James Ermitanio, Joshua De Leon, Carlson Cruzat, Jonathan Capayas, Louis Calayag, John Joseph Bucayo, Thaiphi Austria, Chris Aninzo, and Joshua Abragan.
The festival is part of the Teen Ayuyus’ training camp in Korea and they will stay there until Aug. 10. The team will have the off-island training camp to get ready for the AFC U19 Championship 2018 Qualifiers. Mita said the festival will provide the squad the test matches they need and will give the coaching staff an idea where they are at as far as their preparations for the Asian Football Confederation-sanctioned competition are concerned.
“The Japanese and Korean teams are not only good teams, but they are also individually better than us. If we play individually, we don’t have a chance against them, so we have to play as a unit. To make it happen, all the players have to understand team concept, tactics, and communication. We have to improve in those aspects while we are having the training camp,” the head coach said.
“I would also like to see who has more team spirit and will stand up for the squad against the strong players of Korean and Japan. With these, the coaching staff will have an idea who will be ready for the AFC tournament,” Mita added.
The AFC U19 Championship 2018 Qualifiers will run from Oct. 31 to Nov. 8, with the CNMI to play against Australia, Hong Kong, and North Korea.
“Since we are in same group with North Korea in the AFC U19 tournament, this would be a good simulation match. North Koreans play direct soccer and they are physically and mentally very strong. I expect that we will play similar type of teams in South Korea. We will play against a youth squad of K- League team. I hope this game will be a good test match for us,” the Teen Ayuyus coach said.
The venue for the AFC qualifier has yet to be announced. There are nine other qualifying tournaments across Asia and the top finishers in each competition along with the five best second place teams will advance to the finals.
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