[sixcol_five_last]

The Mini Matao, Guam’s U14 Boys national team poses for a group photo. Pictured in the front row from left to right are: Sena Morimoto, Ryo Suzuki, GianCarlo Abril, Samuel Larkin, Jacob Herring and Takumi Odell. Pictured in the middle row from left to right are: Tyler Presto, Leon Morimoto, Vincent Cruz, Anthony Moon, Aidan Dickson and Rhys Paynter. Pictured in the back row from left to right are head coach Brett Maluwelmeng, Preston Boynton, An Truong, Xavier Naputi, Takumi Ito, Clayton Mitchell, Ethan Elwell and assistant coach Julius “J.R.” Campos. Not pictured are Noah Jaye and assistant coach Francis “F.J.” Chargualaf. (courtesy photo)
PRESS RELEASE – The Mini Matao, Guam’s U14 Boys National team, is set to kick off 4:30 p.m. Saturday Beijing time against Chinese Taipei in Group G of the first-ever AFC U14 Championship Qualifier in China. The team departs early Thursday morning.
Guam has been placed in Group G with China, P.R., Chinese Taipei, Korea Republic and the Northern Mariana Islands. Of the five teams in Group G, the top two will advance to the championship round next year.
“It is definitely our target to qualify,” said Mini Matao head coach Brett Maluwelmeng. “It’s not going to be easy, as we have China and Korea Republic in our group, probably two of the strongest teams in the entire tournament.
“We have a good mix of players. Our strongest attribute is that the majority of the players on the team have been training and playing together for a year in the National Academy. We’ve also recruited some boys outside of the Academy to help the squad,” Maluwelmeng added.
Maluwelmeng, and assistant coaches Francis “F.J.” Chargualaf and Julius “J.R.” Campos will take a total of 19 players to the tournament: GianCarlo Abril, Preston Boynton, Vincent Cruz, Aidan Dickson, Ethan Elwell, Jacob Herring, Takumi Ito, Noah Jaye, Samuel Larkin, Clayton Mitchell, Anthony Moon, Leon Morimoto, Sena Morimoto, Xavier Naputi, Takumi Odell, Rhys Paynter, Tyler Presto, Ryo Suzuki, and An Truong.
Of the 19 players, five play for Wings FC, four each for the Strykers and Quality Distributors, three for the Sidekicks and one for the Tigers in the Chevrolet Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League. Jaye, from California, plays for Ballistic United Soccer Club in Pleasanton, Calif. Sena Morimoto and Paynter are the squad’s goalkeepers. Jaye, younger brother of the Matao’s Dallas Jaye, currently is training as a field player, but also is the team’s third goalkeeper if needed, Maluwelmeng said.
Also traveling with the team is team manager Gianna Tenorio and team doctor, Dr. Scott Larkin.
After Guam’s Saturday match against Chinese Taipei, the team will take on Korea Republic Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Beijing time. The Mini Matao will take a break Monday and next play Tuesday at 2 p.m. Beijing time against the host nation. Guam’s final match will be against the Northern Mariana Islands Thursday at 2 p.m. Beijing time.
[fbshare url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/mini-matao-to-compete-in-china/ ” type=”button”][fblike url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/mini-matao-to-compete-in-china/ ” style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]
[/sixcol_five_last]


GPS Sports Calendar
July 2025
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for June
1st
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
2nd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
3rd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
4th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
5th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
6th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
7th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
8th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
9th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
10th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Events for July
11th
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
Events for July
12th
Events for July
13th
Events for July
14th
Events for July
15th
Events for July
16th
Events for July
17th
Events for July
18th
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
Events for July
19th
Events for July
20th
Events for July
21st
Events for July
22nd
Events for July
23rd
Events for July
24th
Events for July
25th
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
Events for July
26th
Events for July
27th
Events for July
28th
Events for July
29th
Events for July
30th

Soccer
MASAKADA DRAWS 0-0 WITH UAE

Basketball
YI NAMED NEW UOG BASKETBALL COACH

Pacific Mini Games
WATER SPORTS KICKS THINGS OFF IN DAY 1

Jiu-Jitsu
CRUZ BROS. CRUISE THROUGH STATESIDE COMP

Basketball
GUAM BASKETBALL CREATES HALL OF FAME

Pacific Mini Games
16 READY TO MEDAL IN TRACK & FIELD

Basketball
FD ALUMNI HOOPS OPENS WITH A BANG

Pacific Mini Games
BEACH PLAYERS EXCITED FOR PALAU’S SANDS
COMING SOON …
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament June 27-July 18
Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9
QUICK HITS