The Bahamas becomes first Caribbean nation to join NFL Flag
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. The announcement came at a press conference held yesterday at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.
The Bahamas is home to ESPN Events Bahamas Bowl, and with that initiative, 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.
The Commissioner of NFL Flag Bahamas, Chris Prudhome, said that they are excited for the opportunities and scholarships here in The Bahamas. They are here to take flag football in the country to the next level.
“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,” Prudhome said.
Global Flag Football Ambassador Phoebe Schecter said that they are here to enhance the talent that is already here.
“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,” Schecter said.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg threw his ministry’s support behind the initiative.
“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,” Bowleg said.
NFL Flag has already ventured to other parts of the world. One of those places is the United Kingdom. Making the trip to The Bahamas from the British Flag American Football was Kenny Bello who is an executive.
“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.”
The title sponsor is of the league is Island Luck Cares and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Island Luck Sebas Bastian said that they are happy to be a part of this milestone of sports history and they support the young people.
According to Prudhome, they plan to have two camps here in July, and hope to have the league up and running in August.
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