Markus Toves is a Northern Mariana Islands international footballer who currently plays Kanoa FC of the Marianas Soccer League 1 and the Northern Mariana Islands national team.[1]

Markus Toves
Personal information
Full name Markus Joaquin Attao Toves
Date of birth (2007-05-27) 27 May 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth Northern Mariana Islands
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Kanoa
Number 11
Youth career
2016–2021 Kanoa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Kanoa
2021–2022Teen Ayuyu (loan)
International career
2023– Northern Mariana Islands 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:16, 9 April 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Toves had played for the academy teams of Kanoa FC since at least 2016.[2][3][4][5] He was among the top scorers in the under-12 division in 2017.[6] In 2019, he helped the club win the U15 league championship.[7] Toves and Kanoa repeated the feat in 2021.[8] When the same league was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Toves was tied Kohtaro Goto as the league's top scorer with eight goals in five matches.[9]

In 2021, he played for the U17 national team, known as the Teen Ayuyus, in the Marianas Soccer League 1. He remained with the club through 2022.[10][11] By 2023, Toves had returned Kanoa FC in MSL1.[12][13]

International career

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In 2022, Toves was part of the squads that competed in 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification and 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification.[14][15] In preparation for the latter, he scored in a friendly against Guam as part of a training camp in Dededo.[16] He was called up to the national under-23 team in August 2023 for the Marianas Cup against neighboring Guam. Toves scored two goals in his team's second match of the competition.[17] The 2023 edition of the tournament marked the first-ever win for the Northern Mariana Islands since the cup's founding in 2007. Toves was then named the competition's most valuable player.[18] Later in August, he was named the Northern Mariana Sports Association Male Student Athlete of the month.[19]

Toves was called up to the senior national team in November 2023 for the 2023 Pacific Games.[20] He made his senior debut on 18 November against Fiji in the team's opening match.[21] Later in the competition, he appeared in his country's 4–0 win over American Samoa. The victory was the Northern Mariana Islands' first-ever win in the Pacific Games and first over a full member of the Oceania Football Confederation.[22] Toves scored his first senior international goal against Tuvalu on 30 November in his team's final match of the competition.[23]

In February 2024 Toves was nominated as the Northern Mariana Sports Association Male Student Athlete of the Year for 2023 because of his performances in both the Marianas Cup and Pacific Games.[19] In April 2024, he was named to the senior squad again for a pair of 2024 Marianas Cup matches against Guam. In the first match, Toves opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the eventual 2–1 victory.[24]

International goals

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Scores and results list Northern Mariana Islands' goal tally first.[21]

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 30 November 2023 SIFF Academy Field, Honiara, Solomon Islands   Tuvalu 1–4 1–4 2023 Pacific Games
2. 6 April 2024 NMI Training Center, Koblerville, Northern Mariana Islands   Guam 1–0 2–2 2024 Marianas Cup
Last updated 9 April 2024

International career statistics

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As of match played 7 April 2024.[21]
Northern Mariana Islands
Year Apps Goals
2023 4 1
2024 2 1
Total 6 2

Personal

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Toves is the brother of fellow Northern Mariana Islands international Merrick Toves.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "GSA profile". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  2. ^ Monroyo, Roselyn (29 September 2016). "Kanoa gets solo lead in U12 league". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  3. ^ Monroyo, Roselyn (28 November 2017). "Kanoa FC undefeated in Guam". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  4. ^ Monroyo, Roselyn (23 February 2018). "Easy wins for 2 teams in boys U15". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Kanoa silences Matansa". Marianas Variety. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  6. ^ Monroyo, Roselyn (15 November 2017). "Joyce, Chung take Golden Boot awards". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  7. ^ Monroyo, Roselyn (27 May 2019). "Kanoa takes boys U15 crown". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  8. ^ Monroyo, Roselyn (30 July 2021). "Kanoa clinches boys U15 title". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  9. ^ Monroyo, Roselyn (25 March 2020). "Toves, Goto set pace". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  10. ^ Sablan, Jr., James (12 March 2021). "Paire, U18 NT, MP United notch soccer wins". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  11. ^ Sablan, Jr., James (27 October 2022). "Tan Holdings shuts down Paire 4-0". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  12. ^ Sablan, Jr., James (21 April 2023). "MPU, Tan Holdings, Kanoa triumph in Marianas Soccer League 1". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  13. ^ Gases, Leigh (3 April 2024). "Kanoa Football Clubs notch wins in MSL, Premier League". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  14. ^ "NMI U17 team off to Australia". Northern Mariana Islands Football Association. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  15. ^ "NMI U20 preps for AFC qualifier, holds camp in Guam". Northern Mariana Islands Football Association. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  16. ^ Sablan, Jr., James (25 February 2022). "NMI soccer teams shine in friendly matches". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  17. ^ Sablan, Jr., James (7 August 2023). "NMI men outscore Guam". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  18. ^ a b Gases, Leigh (8 August 2023). "No. 11 are MVPs of Marianas Football Cup". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  19. ^ a b Gases, Leigh (21 February 2024). "NMSA announces 2023 Male/Female Student Athlete of the Year nominees". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  20. ^ Gases, Leigh (15 November 2023). "NMI nat'l soccer teams off to Solomons and China". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  21. ^ a b c "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  22. ^ Gases, Leigh (28 November 2023). "Blue Ayuyus record 1st win in Pacific Games". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Tan first NMI female athlete to win 2 golds in Pacific Games". The Saipan Tribune. December 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  24. ^ Sablan, Jr., James (9 April 2024). "NMI men edge Guam, 2-1". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
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