In a historic move that has drawn applauses across the region, The Bahamas has become the first Caribbean nation to join National Football League (NFL) Flag which is the largest flag football league in the United States of America (USA) and the largest youth flag football organization in the country.
In view of the fact that the Bahamas is home to ESPN Events Bahamas Bowl, Simeon Rice who is a former NFL defensive end and Super Bowl champion saw it fit that The Bahamas became the first Caribbean nation to join NFL Flag. They focus on youth players between ages of 4-17.
Chris Prudhome, who is the Commissioner of NFL Flag Bahamas, said they are excited for the opportunities and scholarships here in The Bahamas.
Prudhome said “The Bahamas is a very strategic location which is why we chose The Bahamas. One of our goals is to make an impact in the world and be a staple in flag football in The Bahamas. There is no reason why there can be seven million tourists, on an annual basis, and there not be an impact on the global growth of the game. It’s a beautiful destination to host various tournaments, combines and so on. We will be working with NFL Flag”.
Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Global Flag Football Ambassador Phoebe Schecter said “At NFL Flag we want to support that and we see the great infrastructure that you have here. We know that you are already playing flag football but not only playing but you guys have incredible athletes. We are here just to enhance that and make NFL Flag Bahamas your own. You have the ‘sauce’ and that is what we want to see, you putting your culture on it”.
Throwing the ministry’s support behind the initiative, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said “My ministry welcomes this partnership between NFL Flag and the local flag association here in The Bahamas. We look forward to the opportunities and exposure that this partnership will bring to our country and young Bahamian athletes. Young men and women will have an opportunity to be seen and recruited by U.S. Colleges. It is my desire as the minister to provide the necessary avenues for our young people to maximize their full potential and discover their true purpose in life”.
Records have it that NFL Flag has already ventured to other parts of the world. One of those places is the United Kingdom.
An executive of the British Flag American Football, Kenny Bello, said “Seeing what you have going on here, you are already at a better starting point that we were in the U.K. (United Kingdom) back then,” Bello said. “It is very exciting for me to visualize and share the vision as to where this can be in the next five to seven years. I say five years because that is when the Olympics will be hosted in Los Angeles and it will be amazing to see The Bahamas at this Olympics. The team you have is amazing.”
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