Matansa FC

Last updated

Matansa
Matansa FC Logo.png
Full nameMatansa Football Club
GroundNMI Soccer Training Center
Capacity500
League MSL 1
2024 Fall Regular season: 1st
Final Series: Champions

Matansa FC is a professional association football club from the Northern Mariana Islands, currently competing in the MSL 1. The club also fields women and youth sides. [1] [2] It is one of the oldest football clubs in the Commonwealth. [3]

Contents

History

The club has participated in the Marianas Soccer League system since at least 2016. [4] In 2021, Matansa's first team began competing under the name Eleven Tiger FC in Marianas Soccer League 1. [5] [6] That season, the club defeated Tan Holdings 4–2 in the final to win the league title. Richard Steele scored two goals en route to the upset victory. [7]

Eleven Tiger repeated the championship for the Spring 2023 season, this time defeating MP United 2–1 in the final match. NMI international Sunjoon Tenorio scored both of his team's goals in the victory. [8] Other members of the 2023 championship-winning squad were Ariel Narvaez, Eunsyu Hahn, Anthony Austria, Zhixiang Lin, Akira Kadokura, Jack Unsa, Bada Lee, Brandy Onopwy, Floyd Muna, Jimmy Lin, Brandon Tenorio, Dave Mafnas, Jamin Elliot, Seho Baek, and Dane Hodges. [9] The club went on to also win the Fall 2023 season. [10]

In December 2023, Eleven Tiger was the North Mariana Islands' representative in the first-ever Marianas Club Championship, hosting Guam Soccer League champions Wings FC. [11] Eleven Tiger went on to win the match 2–1 with goals from Tanapon Unsa and Sunjoon Tenorio. [12] [13]

In Spring 2024, the club began competing in the top-flight as Matansa FC. The club finished in third for season, earning them a spot in the playoffs. They were seeded against MP United in the semi-finals. The match was decided in a penalty shootout in which Matansa won with a score of 2–2 (5–3 on pens.) [14] The club would face Kanoa in the finals, an eventual 4–2 defeat. [15]

Matansa FC topped the league standings in Fall 2024, winning all of its six matches in the regular season and qualifying for the playoffs stage. The club would be drawn against the Marianas Development Team in the semi-final and trashing them 7-1 and qualifying for the final, once again challenging Kanoa for the title. The match saw a scoreline of 3–2 in favor of Matansa, earning another title for the club. [16]

Players

Current squad

As of 23 July 2023 [17]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Jordan Ruiz
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Arif Khan
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Harry Kapwich
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Jacob Arkoh
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Andy Chen
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Amzad Khan
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Lar Wongapa
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Kamrul Kamrul
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Song Park
No.Pos.NationPlayer
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Tom Linden
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Gabriel Arkoh
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Woynha Hwang
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Houston Cuohua
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Gabriel Arkoh
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Faycal El Karaa
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Derek Cutting
—Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  NMI Ratol Robait
Logo used by the club as Eleven Tiger FC Eleven Tiger FC Logo.png
Logo used by the club as Eleven Tiger FC

Honours

Winners: Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023
Runners-up: Spring 2024
Third Place: Spring 2025
Winners: Fall 2022
Winners: 2023

International competition

Scores and results list Matansa's goal tally first.
YearCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
2023 Marianas Club Championship N/a Flag of Guam.svg Wings FC 2–1N/a2–1

References

  1. ↑ Sablan, Jr., James (March 31, 2023). "Matansa, Kanoa triumph in U12 boys soccer". Marianas Variety. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ Gases, Leigh (September 28, 2023). "Paire 1, Matansa win in intermediate women's soccer". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Mobil donates $800 to Matansa". Saipan Tribune. July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ Monroyo, Roselyn (February 23, 2016). "Tan Holdings crushes Matansa". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ Stokkermans, Karel. "Northern Marianas 2021". RSSSF. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  6. ↑ Gases, Leigh (October 12, 2022). "Kanoa FC roars past Eleven Tiger FC in MSL". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Eleven Tiger wins Men's Soccer League Division "A" title". Marianas Variety. July 20, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ Sablan Jr., James (June 21, 2023). "Eleven Tiger FC clinch MSL 1 championship". Marianas Variety. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  9. ↑ Gases, Leigh (June 23, 2023). "Eleven Tiger, Matansa are MSL champs". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Eleven Tiger vs Wings FC in Marianas Club Championship". Marianas Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Wings FC ready for first-ever Marianas Club Championship". Pacific Daily News. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ Sablan, Jr., James (December 19, 2023). "Eleven Tiger outlasts Wings in Marianas Club Championship". Marianas Variety. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  13. ↑ Gases, Leigh (December 20, 2023). "Eleven Tiger claws way to championship". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  14. ↑ RSSSF, Northern Marianas 2024 Spring playoff stage
  15. ↑ "Kanoa FC bags MSL1 and MSL2 titles". Northern Mariana Islands Football Association . May 29, 2024.
  16. ↑ Sablan Jr., James (November 20, 2024). "Matansa wins MSL1 title". Marianas Variety.
  17. ↑ Gases, Leigh (June 23, 2023). "Eleven Tiger, Matansa are MSL champs". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
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