Guam Football Association garnered three of 26 awards, the most of any local sports organization, at the 2013 Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Awards dinner banquet at the Westin Resort Guam.

The Guam FA earned the 2013 Exemplary Sports Facility award for the second turf pitch installation and the solar energy project at the National Training Center, the 2013 Outstanding Masters Sports Program award for the annual Co-Ed Masters Soccer League, and Jason Cunliffe, men’s national football team captain, was honored as the 2013 Most Inspirational Athlete.

“It’s an honor for us to receive multiple awards from the prestigious Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recognizing GFA’s sports initiatives and programs,” said Richard Lai, GFA president. “None of this would have been possible without the tremendous assistance from FIFA that generously funded the ongoing upgrades at our National Training Center, as well as the local government, sponsors, athletes, officials, and fans who continue to support the growth of football in Guam.

“Winning these awards is testament to the continuous work by GFA executives and staff to promote a healthy lifestyle through the sport of football. Of course, we are not done yet – there’s still many more projects in the pipeline to further grow the sport in Guam,” Lai added.
The U17 division teams of the Robbie Webber Youth League, as well as teams from the Women’s League were among the first to utilize the second full-size turf pitch. Guam also played host to the first-ever East Asian Football Federation U18 Youth Tournament featuring teams from DPR Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as Guam’s U18 national team. All matches were played at the GFA National Training Center’s two artificial turf pitches.

The Solar Energy System project is Guam’s first FIFA Income-Generating Project. The solar farm, the largest in Micronesia, will help GFA save roughly $81,900 in annual electricity costs.
The Co-Ed Masters Soccer League, played during the men’s and women’s league off season, was recognized for its consistent growth in participation. The league is unique in that its co-ed format is rarely seen past the youth level. The league features over 100 men and women in five teams competing for the championship trophy, as well as a Golden Boot and Fair Play awards.

Cunliffe, captain of the Matao, Guam men’s national football team, was recognized for his many individual accolades that have inspired young football athletes, including MVP and Golden Boot honors at the 2013 East Asian Cup preliminary competition. He also began his professional career with Pachanga Diliman FC in the United Football League in the Philippines in 2012. As a coach, Cunliffe was at the helm of the Father Duenas Memorial School Friars for two years and helped the high school win an interscholastic championship. As a college student, Cunliffe played NCAA Div. I soccer for the Santa Clara University Broncos and helped the team win three West Coast Conference titles and an appearance in the NCAA Div. I Final Four in 2003.

The three awards this year from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports add to Sports Tourism awards from previous years and the 2012 Youth Sports Program award recognizing the creation and success of the GFA National Academy for elite youth athletes.