The Tribune

The Bahamas Flag Football League (BFFL) holds the third annual flag football invitational tournament sponsored by Heineken this weekend, October 11-14, at the Roscoe Davies Soccer Field in Baillou Hills. Returning to defend the 2011 title will be current BAFF champions the undefeated (in BAFF League play) Frecon Alliance.

One year ago, flag football fans watched as Grand Bahama’s Frecon Alliance defended home soil and defeated the Cayman Islands to not only keep the title in the Bahamas, but return to Freeport far away from the hands of the host island of New Providence. It was a bittersweet victory as two of the top contenders in Nassau had to throw their support to Freeport to keep the title home, after both losing in the semis paving the way for a championship game without a BFFL representative.

A total of 13 teams will participate - six men’s teams and seven ladies’ teams from New Providence, Freeport and the Cayman Islands.

In the men’s division, the BFFL 2012 Champion Heineken Spartans and Go Green Predators will represent New Providence for the BFFL. Joining Frecon will be the Zorba’s Destroyers and the GB Shipyard Wreckers representing BAFF out of Freeport. The Cayman Islands National Team will also return for a second year.

Also returning from Cayman will be the reigning National Invitational champs in the Ladies division. The other six teams will be comprised of the 2012 BFFL champion Pink Foxes, the Lady Spartans and Lynx representing New Providence and from the BAFF 2012 champion Piranhas, the Police Enforcers and the Assassins.

Director of the BFFL Jayson Clarke expressed excitement concerning the event, “We’re expecting a really good display of competition while building stronger ties and relationships with other leagues that compete in the sport of Flag Football. We are highly anticipating Freeport’s and Cayman’s return to the event. They both truly add to the excitement of this tournament.”

“Since our inaugural season in 2009, the BFFL and the sport itself have grown significantly. We’ve had three intense local seasons, tournaments both here and in Freeport as well as teams travelling to the Cayman Islands to compete in their Regional tourney.”

Clarke also expects strong support from the local community building on the success of last year’s event and is hoping to see solid representation from the fans to support the New Providence teams.

He said: “We are in the final planning stages and with the support of a number of corporate sponsors we are really looking forward to some good competition and friendly environment over the long holiday weekend.”