Pohnpei Premier League
| Founded | 2009[1] |
|---|---|
| Country | Federated States of Micronesia |
| Number of clubs | 4 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Current champions | Island Pitbulls (8th title) (2022) |
| Most championships | Island Pitbulls (8 titles)[2] |
Pohnpei Premier League is the top flight football league in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, established in 2009.[3][4]
History
[edit]In 2009, English journalist Paul Watson and his friend Matthew Conrad established the Pohnpei Premier League, which had its first season from October to December of that year.[5][6]
During that season, there were five clubs, including the Pitbulls, the SDA, International FC, C.O.M.-FSM FC, and the Island Warriors.[4] The Island Pitbulls competed in shirts donated by English side Yeovil Town, and originated from the College of Micronesia and church groups.[7] The Pitbulls won both the pre-season Liberation Games, as well as the final "showdown" match of the league against SDA, with a score of 5–2.[4]
The best players from the league were then offered the chance to train to be in the Pohnpei national team.[8] In October 2010, Pohnpei won its first football victory in history against a second division club team in Guam.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Micronesian Times". 27 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2023-08-04.
- ^ "Pohnpei - League". rsssf.org.
- ^ "How to Become an International Soccer Coach". vice.com. 21 June 2013.
- ^ a b c Cooper, Ian (24 February 2010). "Up Pohnpei – it's Paul's island dream". Brent & Kilburn Times. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
- ^ "MEET POHNPEI, THE PACIFIC ISLANDERS BATTLING TO BECOME FIFA'S 212TH MEMBER". thesefootballtimes.co. 3 September 2017.
- ^ a b Watson, Paul (September 2023). "POHNPEI A DECADE ON". Four Four Two. No. 356. pp. 60–65. Retrieved 2024-05-27 – via EBSCOHost.
- ^ "Why Micronesia must be allowed to join FIFA". sport360.com (Archived). Archived from the original on 2023-08-04.
- ^ "Pohnpei's 'Premier League': How Soccer Returned To A Small Island". wbur.org. 6 September 2019.