
PRESS RELEASE – Over 1,000 participants, volunteers, and supporters took part in the inaugural FIFA Football for Schools Festival Jamboree at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Saturday.
A total of 32 teams from 16 elementary schools played at least three matches during the day, with group-leading teams earning a bonus match at the end of the festival.
For 11-year-old Koah Reyes, he said enjoyed the feeling of winning games, but also reveled in the fun aspect of the game among his peers.
“We got to have a lot of fun today and this festival was good because a lot of schools – 16 schools – got to participate,” said Reyes, a fifth-grader at Harvest Christian Academy. “I hope GFA can have more events like this for us, so even more schools can participate and more people can enjoy soccer.”

The day of festival matches began at 8:30 a.m. with a parade featuring each participating school wearing an array of colored FIFA Football for Schools shirts. Once all players and coaches marched on the field, event VIPs and dignitaries joined the students. The Hon. Joshua Tenorio, Lieutenant Governor of Guam, Jon Fernandez, GDOE Superintendent, and George Lai, GFA Vice President addressed the students and supporters with welcome speeches. Other VIP guests at the event were Speaker Therese Terlaje, Senator Amanda Shelton, and GFA Executive Committee members Fred Alig II, Tina Esteves, Duane Pahl, and Gian Tenorio, all led to the pitch by Sang Hoon Kim and Sakiko Ogura, Head Coaches of the Guam Men’s National Team and Guam Women’s National Team, respectively.
Lt. Gov. Tenorio, Fernandez, and Lai each took turns shooting a soccer ball into a goal to officially begin the festival.
“I’m so excited that we’re taking part in this – our students and our parents as well,” said Julie Salas, Principal of Upi Elementary School. “I really hope this continues as an annual festival because it is such a wonderful event for all our students around the island.”

The 16 participating schools were Adacao Elementary School, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School, C.L. Taitano Elementary School, D.L. Perez Elementary School, Guahan Academy Charter School, Harvest Christian Academy, Inarajan Elementary School, Marcial Sablan Elementary School, Maria Ulloa Elementary School, Merizo Martyrs Memorial School, M.U. Lujan Elementary School, P.C. Lujan Elementary School, Capt. H.B. Price Elementary School, Talofofo Elementary School, Upi Elementary School, and Wettengel Elementary School.
The festival matches featured youth referees from the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth League officiating all matches and school volunteers assisting throughout the day. The event also included complimentary ice cream treats from Quality Distributors, as well as food and drinks for purchase from Fizz and Co. School supporters and parents also were encouraged to bring snacks and hydration beverages for the players, with each school setting up under canopies provided by GFA.
The festival is only one component of the FIFA Football for Schools Program. GFA also has teamed up with the Guam Airport Police to provide anti-bullying and character-building presentations at the schools. The first presentation of the program was delivered Friday afternoon at Maria Ulloa Elementary School.
To support the soccer-training component of the program, GFA donated equipment, such as goals, soccer balls, sets of bibs, cones, and markers, to all participating schools. GFA coaches made visits to schools to conduct sample training sessions with students.
School teachers and coaches will be able to continue to implement soccer as part of their respective school’s physical education curriculum or as an after-school activity with the help of a FIFA Football for Schools mobile application, which features fun training sessions for young athletes each paired with a life skill to learn and reinforce on and off the pitch.
“I’ve already been receiving calls from other schools about how to be part of the FIFA Football for Schools program,” said Sam San Gil, GFA Football Events Director. “We definitely want to include more schools into the program and to get more young athletes on the pitch to enjoy the sport. After today’s event, I’m sure the kids are excited to continue playing.
“We have more youth soccer activities lined up for this summer including the AFC Grassroots Football Day festival on May 21, and the start of the first-ever youth futsal tournament and league next month, leading into the next Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League for the 2022 Fall season,” San Gil added.


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GPS Sports Calendar
May 2022
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for May
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #4
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
3rd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
5th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
6th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
7th
GPD HOT PURSUIT 5K
MARIANAS OPEN
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for May
9th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #5
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER All-Star Meeting
IIAAG GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
Events for May
12th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
12th
Events for May
14th
14th JUDICA CRABAO 5K
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
Events for May
16th
ISA TRACK & FIELD ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE All-Star Meeting
Events for May
17th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
18th
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Events for May
19th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
20th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL All-Star Meeting
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
21st
Pre-Memorial Day 13-Miler
GETTING GUAM HEALTHY 5K BUBBLE RUN/HEALTH FAIR
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD All-ISLAND MEET
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE FINALS
ALPHA WARRIOR ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
2022 Guam Track & Field National Championships
Events for May
23rd
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
24th
Events for May
26th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
27th
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Events for May
29th
Events for May
30th

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR PLAYERS DRAFTED

Volleyball
TITANS COMPLETE PERFECT 2022 SEASON

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR PLAYERS DRAFTED

Baseball
DODGERS HAND TRITONS FIRST LOSS

Volleyball
TITANS COMPLETE PERFECT 2022 SEASON
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
COMING SOON …
- YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE KICKOFF June 4
- Todd Gurley Football Camp on Andersen
- GSPN Boys Volleyball All-Star Game
- Pacific Mini-Games in Saipan