Hyderabad, June 17 (IANS) Hyderabad is all set to host the first international American Football game in India on Saturday.
The India team will take on EAFL Falcons side from the United Arab Emirates, in the game being organised under the aegis of the American Football Federation of India (AFFI) that serves as a governing body for the sport in India.
An experienced EAFL Falcons that boasts of players with NFL experience in the past, take on a young and energetic Indian side.
"We are very happy that the efforts of AFFI to create awareness about this hugely popular contact sport in Hyderabad and across the country have started showing results," AFFI COO Sandeep said.
He said that American Football is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Presently played across 71 nations, the sport is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is likely to get official entry into the Olympics soon.
"Tomorrow's game will be a milestone in showcasing India as the new home for this hugely popular sport. The India team is filled with enthusiasm and energy, and we hope our boys will fare well against an experienced opposition," said Praveen Reddy, India's head-coach.
"Our coaches and players have been preparing hard for this game. We do not know what to expect on Saturday but we will be prepared to play our best in what promises to be an exciting showcase," said Kyle Jordan, head coach, EAFL Falcons.
AFFI is an associate member of the International Federation for American Football (IFAF), which is the development partner of hugely popular NFL in the United States. AFFI is also a member of the IFAF-Asia, which is the regional body.
--IANS
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