Seven Named as Skills Challenge Champions

Seven youth soccer players were crowned as skills champions in their respective age groups in the first-ever Guam Football Association Summer Skills Challenge held Saturday at the GFA National Training Center.

“I was surprised I was called as winner of the Boys’ U17 division,” said Joshua Calvo, who plays for the Paintco Strykers in the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League. “I was the youngest player in the group and didn’t expect to win. It was really nerve-wracking at the beginning because I wanted to win at all the stations, but as we went further into the competition, it became fun getting to know the guys and working through each skill set together.

“Ryo (Suzuki) had won three of the stations and I knew if he would’ve won one more, there wouldn’t be a chance for any other player to win. That really made me push myself to get better results at the remaining skills stations, and it paid off,” added the 13-year-old student at Jose L.G. Rios Middle School.

The winners of each age division were Riku Meyar (U8 Boys), Luella Cramer (U8 Girls), Bryan Nakamine (U11 Boys), Samantha Kenney (U11 Girls), Taiga Simon (U13 Boys), Emma Naval (U13 Girls), and Calvo (U17 Boys).

“It was nice to have won the U13 Girls division – we all tried our hardest, and there was some good competition,” said Naval after the short awards ceremony. “My favorite station was “Running with the Ball” where we had to sprint a 40-yard distance with the ball.

“My favorite part about the whole event, though, was working together with the group to complete skills stations and getting to know each other as we moved from station to station. It was a good experience,” added Naval, a former student at Cmdr. William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School who will be relocating to Virginia with her family within the week.

Contestants competed in seven different skills stations that tested their abilities in running with the ball, dribbling, passing, turning, shooting, juggling the ball, and a 1v1 challenge. GFA National Academy coaches evaluated and scored each contestant by tabulating points earned at certain stations, while ranking the players at other stations that were timed contests.

“The Skills Challenge was organized by the GFA technical department to give youth players the opportunity and guidance to master basic football skills off the field and to showcase those mastered skills in a competitive environment with their peers, which I am sure all the young contestants enjoyed,” said Gary White, GFA technical director. “I designed the skills test to encourage our players to practice at home away from organized sessions with their clubs or the National program. Our players need more contact time with the ball and they need to learn to develop personal initiative when it comes to developing their technique and motion management. The Skills Challenge creates an opportunity for parents to work with their children at home in an easy-to-conduct, fun, non-pressured learning environment.

“We plan to have another Skills Challenge soon, as we will be keeping track of the performances of the players. This is one example of an event that all our young athletes from all the youth clubs should take advantage of – the fun, yet competitive nature of the event gives them the push to continue improving their skills,” White added.

The Skills Challenge was supported greatly by Guam national team kit sponsor, Diadora. Each of the top players from each division were awarded an autographed national team replica jersey and mini Diadora ball by the players of the Matao and Masakada, and a $100 gift certificate from Diadora. Items for purchase from Diadora are available online at www.diadorasoccer.com.