23 Nov Guam U14 Girls Academy team to play friendlies in Saipan
[November 24, 2022 – Harmon, Guam] A Guam U14 Girls Academy team of 18 players will travel to Saipan over the Thanksgiving holiday for a training camp and a pair of friendly football matches against its Northern Mariana Islands counterpart.
“The objective of this training camp is to provide the young players the experience of an elite training environment outside of Guam, as well as to gain playing minutes in competitive matches as selected representatives of Guam in international football,” said Guam U14 Academy Head Coach Chyna Ramirez. “Gaining these experiences early on will be helpful in their football development moving up to the youth national team program. Not only will they be better prepared for future international matches at the upper age divisions, but they’ll also bring back these experiences to help in raising the level of their respective club teams.
“I believe the selected players are ready to test themselves in the upcoming matches. Over several months this year, they have been fortunate to also receive coaching and mentoring from various past and present coaches in the women’s program, including current Masakåda Head Coach Ross Awa, former Masakåda Head Coach Sakiko Ogura, Hannah Cruz, Keleko Fejeran, Isabella Bass, and Kiarra Hutcherson, among others,” Ramirez added.
Ramirez and her coaching staff selected 18 players for the traveling roster including three goalkeepers: Gabriella Edwards, Kahlan Hancock, and Jady Elora Raval. Field players are Kelly Cho, Melody Cho, Elyse Concepcion, Fejera Cruz, Kirra Cruz, Marion Finney, Lilah-Reese Finona, Meria “Melu” Harmon, Chloe Laxamana, Aliana Meno, Gifty Merrill, Charlie Mesa, Julia Perez-Jackson, Aeva Sablan, and Kathryn Wong.
Traveling with Ramirez as part of the staff are Hannah Cruz and Keleko Fejeran.
The team will depart Guam Friday morning to Saipan with a scheduled training session later in the day. The team’s first match against its NMI counterpart will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday. The team will play a second match will kick off at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The team returns to Guam Monday morning. Both matches will be played at the NMIFA Soccer Training Center. The teams will play in an 8v8 format.
“I would like to thank the Guam FA Executives and Management for supporting this valuable opportunity for some of our youngest elite athletes and also the NMIFA for working with us to realize this training camp,” Ramirez said. “I also would like to thank the players and their parents for their commitment to football development through the GFA Women’s National Program and its initiatives.”
Guam U14 Girls Academy’s Kirra Cruz plays the ball as Aeva Sablan tracks her on defense during a recent U14 Girls Academy training session at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. A select team of 18 players will travel to Saipan for a short camp and a pair of friendly matches over Thanksgiving break.
A select team of 18 players from the Guam U14 Girls Academy pose for a team photo ahead of its travels to Saipan for a short camp and a pair of friendly matches over Thanksgiving break. In the photo are, seated from left to right: Meria “Melu” Harmon, Coach Kiarra Hutcherson, Head Coach Chyna Ramirez, Coach Keleko Fejeran, Coach Hannah Cruz, and Elyse Concepcion. In the middle row, from left to right are: Kirra Cruz, Julia Perez-Jackson, Kelly Cho, Aeva Sablan, Gifty Merrill, Aliana Meno, Lilah Finona, Marion Finney, and Melody Cho. In the back row, from left to right, are: Chloe Laxamana, Kathryn Wong, Jayda Raval, Gabriella Edwards, Kahlan Hancock, Charlie Mesa, and Fejera Cruz.
Guam U14 Girls Academy’s Kathryn Wong moves to advance the ball during a recent U14 Girls Academy training session at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. A select team of 18 players will travel to Saipan for a short camp and a pair of friendly matches over Thanksgiving break.
Guam U14 Girls Academy Coach Keleko Fejeran discusses objectives with players during a recent U14 Girls Academy training session at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. A select team of 18 players will travel to Saipan for a short camp and a pair of friendly matches over Thanksgiving break.
Guam U14 Girls Academy Head Coach Chyna Ramirez directs movement on a set play during a recent U14 Girls Academy training session at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. A select team of 18 players will travel to Saipan for a short camp and a pair of friendly matches over Thanksgiving break.
Guam U14 Girls Academy’s Melody Cho passes the ball during a recent U14 Girls Academy training session at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. A select team of 18 players will travel to Saipan for a short camp and a pair of friendly matches over Thanksgiving break.