GFA CELEBRATES MILESTONE 50th YEAR

PRESS RELEASE – Guam Football Association officially unveiled its 50^th Anniversary logo and honored longevity service of four staff at a Staff Appreciation Event held Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Guam.

Guam Football Association, officially founded in 1975, will be celebrating 50 years of football in Guam and Guam football abroad this year. The celebratory year kicked off with Sunday’s event organized by 50^th Anniversary chairwoman Jean Cepeda and the GFA Marketing Committee and attended by over 100, including GFA Executives, full-time and part-time staff, coaches, referee mentors, and other guests.

“As we celebrate this milestone for football in Guam, I would like to recognize all who have shaped the sport in Guam since its formal inception in 1975 – from the pioneers to the current staff supporting the further growth and development of football in Guam,” said Valentino San Gil, GFA President, during the event. “To successfully thrive in the community for 50 years, this takes a huge amount of passion and commitment from all involved – from our athletes, coaches, referees, administrators, partners and sponsors, and our supporters in Guam and abroad.

“We look forward to celebrating this achievement with the local community through a year-long calendar full of football events and activities to commemorate 50 years of the sport in Guam,” San Gil added.

Guam Football Association Vice President and Chairperson of the GFA Marketing Committee, Tina Esteves, officially unveiled the anniversary logo following a short video with compiled images and clips from the past five decades. In the video, Charlie Whang, was recognized as the first president of GFA and one of the original Executive signatories of the GFA’s Articles of Incorporation in 1975. Other Executive signatories of the original document were Vice President Fr. Tony Gillespie, Treasurer Don Pedro, Corresponding Secretary Ben M. Diaz, and Recording Secretary Ted S. Nelson.

In a separate part of the event, four members of the GFA Staff were presented with longevity service awards by GFA General Secretary Joe Cepeda and Executive Committee members.

• Cheri Stewart, GFA Executive Director, 15 years from Jan. 1, 2010

• Jill Espiritu, GFA Head of Communications and Commercialization, 12 years from Mar. 1, 2012

• Ross Awa, GFA Technical Director and Men’s National Team Head Coach, 10 years from Jan. 21, 2015

• Kimberly Sherman, Women’s National Team Head Coach and Head of Elite Youth Development, 10 years from Jan. 21, 2015

In celebration of GFA’s 50^th Anniversary, a series of celebratory events will take place through the year for the local community. More details will be announced ahead of the events.