
By Robert Balajadia
Guam’s young football fans and current players got the chance to learn from the NFL’s latest Chamorro Zach Banner Thursday afternoon at the Guam High gym for the first ever Banner Football Festival, that was completely free and open to the public.
Banners week-long homecoming is nearing it’s end and the newest Indianapolis Colt made his biggest public appearance while interacting with the youth.
From the minute Banner arrived to the crowd to his exit, he stressed the importance of school and playing sports as a kid for the primary reason to be having fun.
“College, college, college,” stated the USC Trojan graduate. “It doesn’t matter where you go to school, as long as you get a college education. Now-a-days just having a high school diploma isn’t enough.”
Zach even gave the kids a little history lesson of his ties to Guam, sharing the story of his single mother and how his grandfather inspired him to represent the Guam flag after every game.
“I could see how much support I was getting from the island so I took it upon myself to represent Guam after every game,” said Zach to the crowd.
Nine teams from the GNYFF set up shop in the facility, giving their athletes time to get direct coaching from Banner. Four stations were setup both inside the gymnasium and the turf field at Guam High that made rotations while running football style drills.
Banner allowed members of the GNYFF run the festival given his short-term arrival announcement, but he did promise to bring out teammates next year with a more structured camp.
Racing Banner
At the begging of the festival, Banner challenged the youth members in a race for a pair of his signed cleats. Towards the end of the festival, each team nominated one athlete to compete in a race for the Zach Banner memorabilia.
The two finalists, Keanu Salas from the Raiders and Aiden Lumba from the Steelers both outlasted the pro lineman in the final five yards of the 40-yard dash. Their reward was a cleat each, both signed by Banner!
Banner then concluded the event with an autograph signing and picture taking with each of the teams in attendance.


GPS Sports Calendar
March 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
28th
Events for March
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
Events for March
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
4th
35th RAINBOWS FOR ALL CHILDREN 3.5 MILER
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
Events for March
5th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 3
Events for March
5th
Events for March
6th
Events for March
7th
Events for March
9th
Events for March
11th
GSPN PRESEASON BOYS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT DAY 1
Bank of Guam Block Party 5K
Events for March
12th
Events for March
13th
Events for March
14th
Events for March
15th
Events for March
17th
World Athletics Indoor Championships
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
18th
PAY-LESS KICK THE FAT 5K/10K
World Athletics Indoor Championships
Events for March
19th
Events for March
21st
Events for March
25th
MARIANAS OPEN PRO JAPAN TOURNAMENT
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
26th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 4
Events for March
28th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
30th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
31st
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

MMA/Boxing
BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

Running/Track
SPECIAL OLYMPICS TRACK EVENT ON APR 1

Volleyball
EAGLES HOLD OFF WARRIORS IN 5 SETS

Jiu-Jitsu
MARIANAS OPEN TO TAKE OVER TOKYO

MMA/Boxing
BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

Volleyball
EAGLES HOLD OFF WARRIORS IN 5 SETS
COMING SOON …
- 4th Quarter Sports
QUICK HITS
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Guam MTB National Championship: Edward Oingerang and Jennifer Camacho are your 2023 MTB national champions. Oingerang finished the course in 1:13:24 while Camacho won her second straight title in 54:08.