FOOTBALL CAMP KICKS OFF THREE DAYS OF ACTIVITIES

By Patrick Lujan

Youth and high school football players kicked off the first of three days of the H.O.P.E. Football Camp Wednesday night at the Guam High Field.

Local football coaches along with GameTime Inc. brought back two stateside coaches with connections to Guam to put on a free clinic for our island’s youth.

Coach John Diaz of YAC organization (Young Athletes for Christ) is the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator of Moorpark College, as well as coach Chad Ikei, CEO of Ikei Sports Performance, Olympian and former power lifting world record holder are back to not only put Guam players through combine-like drills but also scout the talent.

Moorpark College out of California currently rosters former FD Friars defensive stud Eugene Arriola and Diaz is looking for talent in that mold of talent and character. So far he’s impressed.

“What’s most impressive on all three levels is, we have kids not only who are talented, but willing to work hard and show something and be coachable,” Diaz said. “To me, being coachable is everything on top of even great effort. We have kids here that fight through adversity and fight through that mental toughness of being fatigued and making that great effort.”

Well known to get players ready for college and the NFL (as well as many other sports), Coach Ikei ran the combine drills consisting of the 40-yard Dash, Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, Shuttle and the 3-Cone Drill. Coming back to Guam since the De’Aundre Cruz days, Ikei sees an improvement of talent over the years.

“”t seems like the kids here are getting faster every year. Definitely got a lot of potential collegiate student athletes here on island,” Ikei said.

Day 2 on Thursday will be more football specific drills followed by a 7-on-7 showcase Friday night at Guam High.

“There’s lots of talent here. Even more than I imagined so I’m excited to get to work with them the next couple of days,” Diaz added.