Donnerstag, Januar 06, 2011

IFAF NAMES 40 PLAYERS FROM EIGHT COUNTRIES AND FOUR CONTINENTS TO WORLD TEAM ROSTER

International players will come together to take part in the second annual
USA vs. World game on Wednesday, February 2, in Austin, Texas

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has selected 40 players from eight countries and four continents for the World Team roster to face The U.S Under 19 National Team, assembled by USA Football, at Austin Westlake Stadium in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, February 2.

The annual game will match an eventual 45-man World Team, which will be completed in the coming weeks, against 45 of the top high school seniors from the United States.  The World Team will feature the best players aged 19-and-under selected from among the 59 IFAF member countries under Canadian head coach GREG MARSHALL, whose coaching staff is selected from eight countries. 

The 2011 World Team roster is comprised of players representing American Samoa (3), Austria (5), Canada (22), Finland (2), Germany (3), Japan (2), Mexico (1) and Sweden (2), who were selected from a provisional list of players nominated by IFAF federations.  They will practice nine times while in Austin from January 28 to February 1.

"It is a challenge to put together a roster of players who are spread around the world and speak different languages, but we are confident that we have selected the best junior international players available," said coach Marshall, who is also head coach of the Western University Mustangs.  Marshall was named the 2010 Ontario University Athletics coach of the year and coached the World Team offensive line last year. 

He added: "We believe we will be competitive and will give players from several countries an opportunity to showcase their talents and to show the American football community that there is a wealth of talent outside what people regard as the game's traditional borders."

The Team USA vs. The World series kicked off in January 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Team USA earned a 17-0 victory.  The World Team held the hosts scoreless until the final play of the first half, suggesting that the gap in quality between international junior football players and their counterparts from the United States is narrowing as the game's popularity spreads around the world.  The second annual game will kickoff at 7:30 pm CT at Austin Westlake High School Stadium. Tickets cost $8 and are available at www.usafootball.com/app/webroot/teamusa.

"IFAF is excited to again send a team of the world's best under-19 players to take on Team USA," said IFAF President TOMMY WIKING.  "In the last game, the World Team showed that they can compete with the best the United States has to offer.  When we play again in Austin, we will be out there believing we will not only compete, but win."

The World Team squad includes seven returning players who took part in the inaugural 2010 Team USA vs. The World game in Fort Lauderdale.  Among those who impressed is linebacker BECK COULTER from American Samoa, who was among the team's captains and recorded five tackles and a sack. 

Coulter has accepted a scholarship to play at Southern Methodist University having played for four years at Leone High School in American Samoa and then at Trinity (TX) Community College and Eastern Arizona  College.  He will again line up alongside fellow American Samoan, defensive lineman TAVITA KATINA (Fa'asao Marist High School).

Also returning for a second year are defensive backs SOON CHA (University of Ottawa)and CAMERON WADE (Acadia University)and defensive linemen JOEL SUETTER (University of Saskatchewan).

On the offensive side of the ball, Canadian running back STEVEN LUMBALA from the University of Calgary returns having pounded 28 yards on 7 carries against Team USA in 2010.  Compatriot ALEX ANTHONY from Laurier University, who captained the World Team in 2010, will return at wide receiver.  Both were also members of the Team Canada squad that claimed the silver medal at the IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio in 2009.

Joining the final World Team roster, an IFAF Development Team will take part in practices in Austin with the aim of identifying and developing future prospects, who will form the basis of the 2012 World Team.  In addition one player from the development team will be selected for the final 2011 World Team roster, while in Austin.

"It is important that we expose younger players to this high level of intense practice and play as we continue to develop quality players internationally," added Wiking.  "The World Team is part of a bigger picture that will increase the standard of the game outside of the United States."

USA Football's 2011 Under-19 team is led by DARREN ALLMAN, head coach of Austin (Texas) Westlake High School, has also announced the majority of players selected for his 45-man roster. Team USA's roster presently stands at 42 athletes from 21 states and Washington, D.C. The remaining three roster spots will be announced soon.

Allman led Westlake to the Texas Class 5-A (largest school division) state final in 2009. He is 57-19 (.750) overall in six seasons as a head coach.

Participation in "Team USA vs. The World" is recognized as a U.S. National Team competition by the NCAA and not considered an all-star game.

"There's no better place to bring the world's best in football than Austin," USA Football Chairman CARL PETERSON said.  "The passion for this sport in South Texas is deep and generational.  Whether a player is from Seattle or Stockholm, he's going to love playing in this atmosphere in front of these fans."


World Team Roster - By Country:

Pos
Name
Last Name
Country
Ht.
Wt.
Team
DL
Tavita
Katina
American Samoa
6-3
250
Fa'asao Marist High School
LB
Beck
Coulter
American Samoa
6-2
240
Eastern Arizona College
LB
Penitito
Faalologo
American Samoa
6-2
200
Fagaitua High School
RB
Andreas
Hofbauer
Austria
5-11
198
Swarco Raiders Tirol

WR
Laurinho
Walch
Austria
5-11
148
Vienna Vikings

OL
Michael
Habetin
Austria
6-3
309
Swarco Raiders Tirol
OL
Aleksandar
Milanovic
Austria
6-6
290
Vienna Vikings
LB
Jakob
Baran
Austria
6-0
220
Danube Dragons
QB
Ben
Rossong
Canada
6-3
210
University of Western Ontario
RB
Steven
Lumbala
Canada
5-11
200
University of Calgary
WR
Alex
Anthony
Canada
6-2
200
Wilfrid Laurier University
WR
Jake
Harty
Canada
6-6
205
Henry Wisewood High School
WR
Tevaun
Smith
Canada
6-1
180
Chaminade College High School
OL
Kyle
Brow
Canada
6-4
275
University of Alberta
OL
Matthias
Goossen
Canada
6-3
290
Simon Fraser University
OL
Winston
Miles
Canada
6-6
305
Forest Hill Collegiate Inst.
ATH
Jahlani
Gilbert-Knorren
Canada
6-1
186
University of Saskatchewan
K/P
Felix
Faubert-Lussier
Canada
6-0
202
Spartiates du Vieux-Montreal

DL
Lindon
Gaydosh
Canada
6-4
320
University of Calgary
DL
Levi
Steinhauer
Canada
6-4
235
University of Saskatchewan
DL
Joel
Seutter
Canada
6-2
235
University of Saskatchewan
LB
Drew
Morris
Canada
6-1
225
Ottawa Sooners
LB
Andrew
Rowe
Canada
6-1
215
Vancouver Island Raiders
DB
Soon
Cha
Canada
5-11
180
University of Ottawa
DB
Thomas
Girard
Canada
5-11
176
François-Xavier Garneau
DB
Marcus
Grandison
Canada
6-0
205
Chaminade College High School
DB
Luke
Thiel
Canada
5-10
190
University of Saskatchewan
DB
Cameron
Wade
Canada
6-2
185
Acadia University
OL
Roman
Grozman
Canada
6-4
330
St Thomas of Villanova Coll.
DL
Shaquille
Armstrong
Canada
6-2
288
Concordia University
DL
Victor
Sarvi
Finland
6-5
253
Helsinki Wolverines
DB
Tuomas
Nurmi
Finland
6-1
198
Helsinki Roosters
QB
Marco
Ehrenfried
Germany
6-5
216
Schwabisch Hall Unicorns

OL
Farid
Jansen
Germany
6-1
267
Düsseldorf Panthers

DL
Marcel
Riep
Germany
6-0
231
Düsseldorf Panthers
RB
Shun
Yokota
Japan
5-10
192
Chuo University
WR
Shin
Takasaki
Japan
5-11
176
Kansai University
WR
Andres
Salgado
Mexico
6-2
170
PUMAS CU
FB
Pontus
Westman
Sweden
6-2
200
Tyreso Royal Crowns
LB
Markus
Westman
Sweden
6-2
205
Tyreso Royal Crowns

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