Long-term commitment to development leads to U20 selection

[September 13, 2024 – Harmon, Guam] Development through long-term commitment starting with Guam’s National Academy through to the Youth National Program elevated the core group of players selected to the Guam U20 National Team for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup™ 2025 Qualifiers this month.

“Thanks to the hard work from the first Guam Football Association National Academy and the culture of the Guam Men’s National Team, this player pool consists of players who have appeared in our previous youth national teams,” said Dominic Gadia, Head Coach of the Guam U20 National Team. “The original mission and purpose of the National Academy has produced players who have matriculated through the designed player pathways of the latter program and my staff and I are fortunate enough to work with those that came through the old Academy system. There are a few debutants who we have chosen to give fresh opportunities to help expand our national team selection pool but our current circumstances have been through long-term design.

“Our selection pool is also aided by the voluntary efforts of former players and staff of our National Program who make an effort to ensure we keep doing what we can as a fraternity to help the program improve,” Gadia added.

The 23 players called up to represent Guam are Dane Agustin, Gavin Baker, Levi Berg, Jason Castro, Nicolas Chargualaf, Landen Diaz, Jonathan Dozier, Jack Gomez, Ka’eo Gonsalves, Curtis Harmon, Josiah Jones, Brandon Kukahiko, Connor Kwan, Erwin Manibusan, Jr., Riku Meyar, Nic Moore, Donovan Moss, Beau Perez, Caleb Sablan, Samuel Stenson, Shuntaro Suzuki, Zian Toves, and Brenden Tuey.

Guam was drawn into Group A of the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ Qualifiers with host country Vietnam, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Syria.

Guam will open its bid Sept. 21 with a 4 p.m. local time (7 p.m. Guam time) match against Bhutan at the Lach Tray Stadium in Hai Phong, Vietnam. The team will next play against Bangladesh Sept. 23 at 4 p.m. local time (7 p.m. Guam time) followed by its match against Vietnam Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. local time (10 p.m. Guam time. Guam’s final match will be against Syria Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. local time (7 p.m. Guam time).

The Guam-based players depart Sunday. Staff traveling with Gadia are Ross Awa, Michael Milner, Jeroen Bos, Vance Manibusan, Dr. Louie Tan, Walfred Javier, and Ralph Awa.