Courtesy: Saipan Tribune


Female strikers urged to join futsal league

by Roselyn Monroyo

As the 2010 NMIFA Women's Futsal Fall League wrapped up last Saturday after about three months of competition, organizers challenged participants to come back and bring more players.

Rebecca Schroeder, who worked with members of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association's women's committee in putting up the league, said women's futsal always welcome new players and would appreciate if more female strikers will participate in the next season.

“We welcome moms, students, and all interested female players to come and join the fun,” Schroeder said during the awards ceremony for the league.

Linda Anastacio, who plays for A league champion team Paire Football Club, said she enjoys futsal more than the regular game at a soccer field because the venue is not that big and less tiring.

Her Paire team, which was composed of mostly mothers looking for a weekend activity, defeated the younger players of Matansa U18 in the finals, 3-2, behind the two goals of former CNMI Women's Basketball Team member Vanessa Mobel.

The women's futsal fall league's B division (for recreational and new players) lured eight squads, while the A division or the competitive category drew four squads.

Anastacio and company topped the B league with their 6-0-2 win-loss-draw record and defeated MP United 2 and Tan Holdings Football Club in the playoffs to set a finals tiff against Matansa U18.

Matansa finished second to Paire in the regular season with its 5-2-1 card and then downed MHS U18 and Shirley's Coffee Shop in the first two playoff games to book a finals berth. Shirley's went on to beat Tan Holdings in the battle for third place.

In the A league, Paire also reigned in the regular season with its 6-0-1 slate and then ousted Independents FC 2 in the semis, 8-0, to make it to the finals. In the finals, Paire had another easy win, whipping MP United, 8-1. MP United advanced to the finals after a 3-1 triumph over IFC 1.

Meanwhile, NMIFA general secretary Ed Salas, who handed the perpetual trophy to A league champion Paire, thanked all the participating teams in the fall league and congratulated the women's committee for helping NMIFA organize the competition.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com