Micronesia
The FSMFA successfully competed against the host nation, the Marshall Islands, and Kiribati. The tournament, named the Outrigger Challenge Futsal Cup, took place from July 22 to 24, 2024, with each nation fielding two teams.
Kiribati quickly established itself as the dominant force, with their A-team overwhelming Marshall Islands A 8-0 and Micronesia A 15-2. Similarly, Kiribati B achieved decisive victories against Marshall Islands B and Micronesia B.
In the semi-finals, the Kiribati teams faced off, resulting in a 5-3 victory for the A-team. The Marshall Islands secured their spot in the final by defeating Micronesia with an identical scoreline.
Kiribati B clinched third place with a 15-1 triumph over Micronesia, while Kiribati A once again overcame the Marshall Islands, this time with a 6-2 win.
FSMFA is offering sponsorships for their training kits as a method to create awareness and fundraising for their desire to travel to Guam this summer. Sponsorship deadline is June 1, 2024. To inquire about sponsorship, contact Coach David via email – coachdavid365@gmail.com
They are seeking the following training kit sponsorship levels:
$1500.00 USD – Front of Shirt
– gold sponsor
– video recording from the National Team captain thanking sponsor for their support
– signed training kit
$800.00 USD – Back of Shirt
– silver sponsor
$400.00 USD – Sleeve
– bronze sponsor(s)
Add Ons:
$200.00 USD – video recording
$100.00 USD – signed training kit
Free State of Micronesia Football Association
We at the FSMFA and ISWTS are asking for your help to bring international soccer back to Micronesia. The FSMFA are not currently a FIFA member which means that travel costs associated with international play falls on the island’s football association. From July 20-27, 2024, we aim to play a futsal tournament hosted in Guam followed by an 11v11 international friendly vs Guam’s national team. To bring 16 players and two members of coaching staff this will cost the FSMFA $10,000.
You can support this endeavor by contributing to ISWTS via PayPal or Venmo by clicking the respective links on this page. Only donor directed contributions labeled “For FSMFA 2024 Travel Only” will be used toward funding the travel cost to Guam.
Looking to the future, the FSMFA wants to develop a playable home soccer field which will cost several million dollars. Having an enclosed facility will help the association train for international events on a consistent basis in what is the wettest region on the planet.
You can support this endeavor by contributing to ISWTS via PayPal or Venmo by clicking the respective links on this page. Only donor directed contributions labeled “For FSMFA Facilities Only” will be used toward funding future training field development in Micronesia. We greatly appreciate your help and support.
Listen to Paul Watson’s story in the link below about his efforts to start up soccer in Micronesia, a precursor to David Johnson’s current efforts to reinvigorate soccer on the islands.
Pohnpei’s ‘Premier League’: How Soccer Returned To A Small Island | Only A Game (wbur.org)
To read more about this story, consider purchasing the book, Up Pohnpei by Paul Watson.
Coach David Johnson has made his way to the island of Pohnpei to begin organizing the team’s efforts to train in preparation for this summer’s competitions. In his efforts to promote awareness of his efforts to reinvigorate the Free State of Micronesia Football Association, Coach David reached out to podcaster and former USMNT player, Alexi Lalas to plug FSMFA and It Starts with the Shoes. This link is just a clip of the entire March 19, 2024, podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxSPfzgDJ05tlzx5L9DSm5m2Ih1PGdPnA2.
Please search for the Alexi Lalas State of the Union podcast and watch from minute 4:20 to 7:00 to learn more about the Micronesian National Team.
Please go to the Shop page to select the link to purchase kits in support of the Micronesian National Team.
A NATION’S STORY OF ADVERSITY AND SETTING A WORLD RECORD (IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY!)
The 2015 Pacific Games were the last time that the FSMFA competed in football of any kind. In their three group stage matches, the National Team lost by a combined score of 114-0, including their last game played to date, a world record breaking 46-0 loss to Vanuatu. After these three losses FA folded and football on the islands ceased to exist. However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Micronesian football. As of July 2023, the Free-State of Micronesia formed a new Football Assocation, (FSMFA) with representatives from all four federated island states, Pohnpei State, Chuuk State, Yap State, and Kosrae State. This is important since the political factors that led to the 2015 catastrophe are no longer in place, and the FSMFA is in a much better position to be competitive going forward on the world stage.
SPORTS BIGGEST UNDERDOGS
There isn’t a small island footballing nation in the world that doesn’t have some obstacles standing in the way of their path to success. What separates FSM from other nations as the sports world’s biggest underdog is the sheer number of hurdles they leap over every day. Adapting to the flooded or frog infested football fields, the team trains and plays on concrete basketball courts is the daily hurdle to leap.
The bigger hurdle is that the four island states span nearly 1700 miles across the Pacific Ocean making it nearly impossible for all members of the national team to practice together as one unit. Growing Micronesian Football is a herculean task that the amazing inhabitants of FSM push to overcome every day.
PLAYER PROFILE – KENNY ALDANA
A young man’s passion and desire to represent his heritage leads to massive changes.
Kenny Aldana’s story with the FSMFA starts as a 17-year-old high school junior in Georgia, USA. It was then, when Aldana found out about his FSM roots through his grandfather who was from the island state of Kosrae. With this newfound sense of heritage, Kenny was desperate to represent the country of his grandfather’s birth. There was, however, the issue of there being no national team for Micronesia. This did not deter Kenny, and his persistence led to the first Futsal Micronesian Cup. Kenny’s efforts resulted in being appointed captain of the Kosraean team that competed in the Cup event. The success of the 2023 Futsal Micronesian Cup led to the newly re-organized FSM Football Assocation.
PLAYER PROFILE – SEAN SOUTHWICK
The path to glory. One man’s journey to be his country’s first professional athlete.
Sean Southwick grew up on the island state of Yap, a son of an American father and a Yapese mother. Despite the lack of football influence on the island, Sean developed a deep passion for the sport. This passion led him to helping Yap win the 2023 Futsal Micronesian Cup and to help form the FSMFA alongside his father Brian. Brian Southwick, as president, is charged with growing the sport for the newly re-organized FSMFA. Sean currently plays on the island of Guam for the university team in hopes and preparations to being his country’s first professional football player.
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