Posted on: Friday, June 27, 2003

ISLE FILE
Earthquakes' Ching is soccer player of month

Advertiser Staff

Brian Ching of Hale'iwa was named the Los Gatos Brewing Company Earthquakes Player of the Month for May, after scoring two goals for the MLS team San Jose Earthquakes.

Ching, 25, also earned his first international appearance — or cap — with the U.S. Men's National Team, in a game against Wales on May 26. He became the first Hawai'i player to play for the National Team.

CLINICS

• Football, soccer at Mililani: Hawai'i's Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, will participate in the Christian Okoye Football and Soccer Clinic this weekend at Mililani High School Stadium.

The clinic is free and runs from 8 a.m. to noon on both days. Saturday's clinic is for ages 8-13 and Sunday for 14-18.

Joining Fuamatu-Ma'afala, are Okoye, former All Pro running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Mark Collins, All Pro defensive back and two-time Super Bowl champion for the New York Giants.

Drills are non-contact and lunch will be provided.

Interested participants can register online at www.okoyefoundation.org.

POLO

• Season starts at Waimanalo: The Honolulu Polo Club begins its five-month season Sunday at Waimanalo.

Gates open at 1 p.m. and the competition starts at 2:30 p.m. General admission is $3. Children under 12 are free.

Polo games continue every Sunday through October 12. The Honolulu Polo Club is directly across from Bellows Beach Park in Waimanalo.

RODEO

• Napier, DeLuz best all-around: Juddsen Napier and Jodi DeLuz won the boys and girls all-around titles at the 16th annual Hawai'i High School Rodeo Association's State Finals Rodeo at the Big Island's Parker Ranch on June 13-15.

The event drew nearly 50 competitors. The top four qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals in Farmington, N.M., on July 21-27.

Napier won in bull riding, and DeLuz won in cutting and goat-tying and earned the scholar-athlete award.

Alex Schuman and Nahe Nobriga won the reserve all-around titles.

ULTIMATE FIGHTING

• Vitale wins debut bout: Middleweight Falaniko Vitale of Honolulu won his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, knocking out Matt Lindland of Gresham, Ore., in the first round, last Friday in Las Vegas.

Lindland, a U.S. Olympic silver medalist wrestler, attempted a takedown but fell backward. His head hit the mat and Vitale landed one punch, knocking Lindland out.