THE Northern Mariana Islands Football Association’s 20-year milestone was celebrated with four resolutions at Thursday night’s NMIFA Ordinary Congress.
NMIFA President Jerry Tan received the resolutions from Gov. David M. Apatang, U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds’ senior policy advisor Matthew Deleon Guerrero, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, and Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider, recognizing NMIFA’s contributions to the Commonwealth and congratulating the group on its 20th anniversary.
King-Hinds praised NMIFA as a “source of pride, opportunity, and unity for our islands.”
Tan called it a “20-year journey” and said, “We have built a very important and strong foundation for continuing growth. With that, we look forward to the next 20 years.”
Recalling NMIFA’s humble beginnings, Tan said football was relatively new in the NMI when the organization started. “Looking back over the past 20 years, we have not only met our goals but exceeded our expectations in several areas,” he said.
Promoting healthy lifestyles
“First, we aimed to use the sport to promote a healthy lifestyle for both kids and parents. That required growing our numbers and involving as many players as possible. From the initial 75 players at American Memorial Park, NMIFA has grown to 1,500 participants, including those in inter-scholastic competitions,” Tan said. He added that the organization now engages many parents in its programs.
Gender equality
“Second, NMIFA has worked to ensure equal opportunities for men and women. Football worldwide is dominated by men, but from the beginning, we committed to developing women’s and girls’ football,” Tan said. “I’m proud that about 40% of our players are women and girls. We want to give both genders equal opportunities.”
Youth development and international exposure
NMIFA has also emphasized youth development, sending young players abroad for exposure. Over the past 20 years, NMIFA attended 185 events across 44 cities in 24 countries, providing invaluable off-island experience for NMI youth. “This exposure is crucial for their growth, especially when many parents don’t have similar opportunities. It also raises NMI’s profile internationally,” Tan said.
Training facilities and infrastructure
Tan recalled that NMIFA’s youth programs began at local schools with substandard fields. Thirteen years after the association’s founding, Phase 1 of the training facility in Koblerville was completed in 2018, followed by Phase 2 in 2022. “We now have a central home for football where everyone can train and play together,” he said.
Competitive achievements
Despite the NMI’s small population, Tan said NMIFA has achieved notable results. “We’ve won 20 games and had 10 draws, which is amazing. Our goal was to learn and improve, and we’ve surpassed expectations,” he said.
“Based on everything we’ve accomplished, I believe we have built a strong foundation for continued growth, and we look forward to the next 20 years,” Tan added.
