Nihon University Bambino to Play Friendly Match in Guam

Nihon University Bambino to Play Friendly Match in Guam

[November 10, 2017 – Harmon, Guam] – A total of 24 of the top young talent in the Budweiser Soccer League mixed with veteran stars have been tapped for a Guam All-Star squad to train for the upcoming “Guam Challenge” match at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The final selection will play Nov. 14 beginning at 7 p.m. against visiting Nihon University “Bambino”.

“It’s going to be a high intensity game knowing the kind of game the visiting university teams play in Japan, and we’re up to the task,” said Chima Mbakwem Guam All-Stars Head Coach. “The main objective of course is to win and looking at the quality of players we have and also at the kind of game played in Japan, I believe we’re ready to match up with them.

With the level of the players selected, all we need now is blending; this is the first time most of them are playing together as one team. We’ve been working on how best to transition and understanding each other’s style in order to produce the result we want.”

The 24 players selected to train include goalkeepers Zachary Hobson of the Bank of Guam Strykers I, Sean Evans of the University of Guam Tritons, and Shawn Sablan of the Islanders FC to train under Goalkeeper Coach Ross Awa.

Field players are Jason Cunliffe, Jonahan Romero, Dominic Gadia, Eddie Lee Lorenzo, and Ryan Quitugua of Isla de Ladrones FC, Clayton Mitchell, Kyle Halehale, and Takumi Odell of the Bank of Guam Strykers I, Dylan Naputi, Derrick Cruz, and Noah Duenas of UOG, Min Sung Choi, Takumi Ito, and Devan Mendiola of the NAPA Rovers FC, Michael Crowley and Patson Haimin of the Islanders FC, Samuel Brokop and Alberto Cordero of the Bombers SC, Fook Liao of Eurocar, Shaine Munoz of the Sidekicks, and Justin Johnson of the Lots of Art Tattoo Heat.

Of Guam’s 24 players on its preliminary roster, 19 are under the age of 23. The team from Nihon University “Bambino” features 13 players all 21 years old and below.

The Guam Challenge has become a tradition twice a year among over 100 university football teams in Japan all competing with each other in a tournament for the ultimate prize of traveling to Guam to play a friendly match. Earlier this year, a team from Kyoto Sangyo University played against four-time defending Budweiser Soccer League champions, NAPA Rovers FC.

In this file photo, University of Guam’s Dylan Naputi prepares to send a long pass to a teammate against the Bobcat Rovers in a 2017-2018 Budweiser Soccer League match at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Naputi is one of the selected players to the Guam All-Stars preliminary roster for a friendly match against the visiting Nihon University “Bambino” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at GFA.

In this file photo, Isla de Ladrones FC’s Jason Cunliffe makes his way through Bombers SC opponents in a 2017-2018 Budweiser Soccer League match at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Cunliffe is one of the selected players to the Guam All-Stars preliminary roster for a friendly match against the visiting Nihon University “Bambino” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at GFA.

In this file photo, Bombers SC’s Alberto Cordero looks for passing options facing defensive pressure from Isla de Ladrones FC’s Jonahan Romero in a 2017-2018 Budweiser Soccer League match at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Both Cordero and Romero are among selected players to the Guam All-Stars preliminary roster for a friendly match against the visiting Nihon University “Bambino” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at GFA.

University of Guam Tritons’ Derrick Cruz attempts to pass the ball forward as Pago Bay Disasters’ Noah Bamba stays focused on the ball in a Week 6 match of the Budweiser Soccer League played Sunday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Tritons won 8-2.

In this file photo, Lots of Art Tattoo Heat’s Justin Johnson stays in control of the ball against Familia FC in a 2017-2018 Budweiser Soccer League match at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Johnson is one of the selected players to the Guam All-Stars preliminary roster for a friendly match against the visiting Nihon University “Bambino” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at GFA.

In this file photo, Islanders FC’s Michael Crowley waits for an opportunity to turn to the goal against Haya United in a 2017-2018 Budweiser Soccer League match at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Crowley is one of the selected players to the Guam All-Stars preliminary roster for a friendly match against the visiting Nihon University “Bambino” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at GFA.