Four matches, four sunny days, and one very serious shortage of footballs
October 2, 2026
KOLONIA, Pohnpei—The Canada Champions League opened with four sunny match days, 40 goals, and at least one result nobody saw coming.
Nett Quebec delivers a debut worth framing
On Tuesday, September 22, at Spanish Wall Park, Nett Quebec played the first match in its history—and celebrated with a 3–1 win over a rejuvenated PCS Toronto.
PCS clearly found the fountain of youth. Nett found the net three times.
Ohmine Vancouver remains the team to beat
The following day, Ohmine Vancouver defeated St Paul Winnipeg 9–1. St Paul, a relatively new team, had a tough introduction against a well-oiled machine coached by Paul Cantero. Ohmine ran so smoothly that nobody needed to check the oil.
Once again, Ohmine looks like a major contender for the cup.
Kolonia Montreal arrives short-handed and leaves five goals ahead
On Tuesday, September 29, at the Track and Field, Kolonia Montreal turned up missing several players but still secured an 8–3 win over Sekere Edmonton.
Sekere was the only team to hold last year’s champions, making Kolonia’s five-goal victory an impressive start.
CCA Ottawa and SDA Calgary deliver the comeback
On Wednesday, September 30, experienced side SDA Calgary, with a squad of more than 30 children, led newcomers CCA Ottawa 4–0 at half-time. The SDA bench was relaxed, and the scoreboard was happy.
Then CCA came back out.
Good coaching, a high defensive line, and efforts to contain SDA’s best scorer turned the match around. The final score was CCA 8, SDA 7.
In its first competition, CCA delivered the comeback of the opening round.
All four winners have three points. Ohmine Vancouver leads on goal difference at plus eight, followed by Kolonia Montreal at plus five, Nett Quebec at plus two, and CCA Ottawa at plus one.
The great goalpost mystery
Spanish Wall Park is awaiting new metal goalposts donated by Vital in collaboration with Kolonia Municipality and the Pohnpei Soccer Association Kids Club (PSAKC).
Metal was chosen for a reason. The PVC goalposts PSAKC donated earlier disappeared piece by piece. Somebody out there may have a very strange collection.
With everyone’s help, we can keep football and group activities going despite the damage.
A thank-you and a word about aluminum cans
PSAKC thanks Burt from the Pohnpei Department of Education for his help.
After an event at the Track and Field on Saturday, September 26, the pitch looked more like a dump than a football field. The goalposts were also broken in two.
That is a serious safety concern. Sharp-edged aluminum cans hidden in tall, uncut grass are hard to see and easy to step on. Children’s feet deserve better.
A tidy pitch is the cheapest piece of sports equipment there is.
Coming up in Matchday 2
Tuesday, October 6: PCS Toronto vs St Paul Winnipeg at Spanish Wall Park.
Wednesday, October 7: Nett Quebec vs Sekere Edmonton at Spanish Wall Park.
Tuesday, October 13: Ohmine Vancouver vs CCA Ottawa at Spanish Wall Park.
Wednesday, October 14: Kolonia Montreal vs SDA Calgary at the Track and Field.
Breaking news—balls are missing
As schools prepare for Matchday 2, they lack the one thing every soccer team needs: footballs.
An institution promised balls last year, but none have arrived for PSAKC or the schools. PSAKC has donated almost every ball it owns, and the cupboard is now looking alarmingly bare.
Some parents asked local authorities for help and were told to ask the NGO.
So the NGO is asking you.
Please contact your senators and members of FSM Congress and ask them to help schools obtain footballs. A ball is a modest investment that can keep children happy, active, and fit.
Want to play? You’re in!
Free training runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. for children aged 5–8 and 9–14.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of gender, skill, disability, ethnicity, language, or family income. If you can run, hop, wobble, or cheer, you belong.
Thanks to Marstella Jack, children from the Ohmine area also have free transport.
With 74 children attending each training session and 40 at each match, we see the enthusiasm for soccer in Pohnpei. We want to keep it going all year, not just in the lead-up to an event.
We are also seeking help to obtain goalposts for Nett School and fund a small gated bridge between Kolonia School and Daini Field, giving children safe access to play during recess and at other times. The Seabees prepared the project; we now need funding.
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