Southern Cobras relish championship opportunity against Tokyo Football Association

[March 29, 2025 – Harmon, Guam] Playing against the visiting girls team from Tokyo Football Association in the championship match of the 2^nd Annual Tokyo Friendlies was an experience to relish for the Southern Cobras SC Saturday afternoon at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

“This was very much a great experience for us – I mean our team is well known as the ‘underdogs’ so this was a good opportunity for us,” said Miomi-Rose Blas. “We didn’t think we were going to make it this far considering our record (in the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth League U17 Girls Division) but we came out, we showed out, and we played well. We were just so glad to be here.

“I would definitely like to have more experiences like this for our teams in Guam – teams from other countries show us what they’ve learned, teach us new things, and just help us improve overall so we can all get better,” Blas added.

The visiting team outlasted all teams in Group A and finished with a 3-0 win over the Cobras in the tournament’s final match. In addition to the U17 Girls tournament, Tokyo FA’s team also played a friendly against the Guam U17 Women’s National Team training squad and a scrimmage against an all-star team assembled from different clubs in the Bud Light G League Women and the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth League Thursday and Friday, respectively.

The Cobras earned its ticket to the final match of the U17 Girls tournament with the best record among teams in Group B, finishing ahead of current youth league leaders Bank of Guam Strykers FC.

“When the grouping first came out, we were a bit sad because we wouldn’t get the opportunity to play against the Tokyo FA team in the group stage – only if we made the championship match,” said Stephen Meno, Southern Cobras U17 Girls team coach. “We asked each other, ‘do you want to play against them?’ All of them said yes, this is the reason why we joined the tournament in the first place. It was a dream come true for us making it to the championship match. We’re considered the underdog team in the league, we’re in a rebuilding stage with our team now; we’re just so happy we made it, it’s all joy for us.

“Just playing against a team like this one, the players see and experience that high level of play. With more opportunities like this, it’s going to push our girls, push our island, and the community to be better and not just be satisfied with what we have. So, please, please keep these opportunities coming – even if we’re not playing and we have the opportunity to watch more high-level matches here. It was just amazing watching them play. They’re so technical, they are so talented, and they are so friendly – it was a great for us and hope they also enjoyed the cultural exchange,” added Meno, who has been coaching with the Southern Cobras for at least 10 years.

Following the championship match, the Cobras received the tournament’s second-place trophy and silver medals presented by GFA Technical Director Ross Awa. Tokyo FA’s team received the champions trophy and gold medals from GFA Executive Committee and GFA Grassroots and Social Responsibility Committee chairman Gian Tenorio.

The 2^nd Annual Tokyo Friendlies, supported by Japan Football Association, was the final of four major events in the month of March held in celebration of AFC Women’s Football Day. The first, the 16th Annual Sugar and Spice Girls Middle School Festival supported by Japan Football Association, was held Mar. 9, with St. John’s School emerging as three-time champions of the festival. The second, the 11th Annual Challenge Cup Girls High School Preseason Tournament supported by Japan Football Association, was held Mar. 16 with the John F. Kennedy High School Islanders winning the title for the second year in a row. The third, the championship match of the Bud Light G League Women was held Mar. 23 with the Bank of Guam Strykers FC taking the league title against Guam Shipyard 4-3.

Saturday’s tournament featured the visiting U16 Girls team from Tokyo Football Association and the seven teams in the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth League U17 Girls Division: ASC Trust Islanders FC, Bank of Guam Strykers FC, Dededo SC, Guam Shipyard Wolverines, NAPA Rovers FC, Southern Cobras SC, and Tumon Typhoons FC.