08 Mar Guam to celebrate 2024 AFC Women’s Football Day with three events
“Guam is one of the few FIFA member nations that proudly features a high level of participation by women and girls in the sport,” said Samuel San Gil, GFA Head of Football Events. “With the addition of recreational leagues back in 2013, the participation of women in particular almost tripled, now with more registered female footballers in domestic leagues.
“Opportunities for women and girls really is year-round, but we reserve the month of March to officially highlight women’s football,” San Gil added.
The 15th Annual Sugar and Spice Middle School Girls Football Festival, supported by Japan Football Association, will kick off Sunday at 8 a.m. with 16 schools confirmed to compete.
The confirmed schools are: Andersen Middle School, Astumbo Middle School, Agueda I. Johnston Middle School, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School, Cmdr. William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School, F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, Guahan Charter School, Inarajan Middle School, Jose Rios Middle School, L.P. Untalan Middle School, Oceanview Middle School, SIFA, St. Anthony Catholic School, St. John’s School, Santa Barbara Catholic School, and Vicente S.A. Benavente Middle School. The championship match is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The following Sunday, GFA will be featuring the Challenge Cup, Girls High School League Pre-season Tournament, also supported by Japan Football Association. Eight high schools will compete: Academy of Our Lady of Guam, George Washington High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Notre Dame High School, Okkodo High School, Simon Sanchez High School, Southern High School, and Tiyan High School. The championship match is set for 1:45 p.m.
On Mar. 24, GFA will be welcoming Tokyo Football Association’s U16 Girls Team that will compete in a friendly tournament with five teams from Guam’s leagues. The championship match is set for 12 noon.
“It was nine years ago that the AFC scripted a new chapter in its rich history as the first Confederation in world football to establish the AFC Women’s Football Day to purposefully commemorate and celebrate the remarkable contributions that the women of Asian football have made to the beautiful game,” said Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, AFC President. “From the stellar performances of national teams and clubs to the growing presence of women assuming leadership roles throughout the diverse expanse of our continent, the role played by women has been indispensable to the AFC’s unwavering commitment to uphold its Vision of cementing its position as a model Confederation.
“Needless to say, it has been a busy year and one to be proud of and thus, to every sung or unsung heroine who has contributed to the progress of women’s football in Asia, I am truly grateful. Now, as we look ahead, there has never been a more exciting time for women’s football on the continent,” the AFC President added.
The community is invited to watch this month’s events at GFA. Schedules and additional announcements will be posted across GFA’s social media platforms. Trophies and medals will be presented to winners of each of the three tournaments.