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American football players to take part in inaugural CAFL

Source: Shanghai Daily | September 1, 2016, Thursday | Online Edition

TEN American football players who just competed in last month’s AFL Championship final will promote the game in China.

They will be part of the foreign squad heading to six Chinese cities in October for the inaugural China Arena Football League (CAFL).

CAFL is the country’s first professional American football league, in which foreign professionals will be invited to partner Chinese players and form teams in Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, Qingdao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The finals of the series, called CAFL China Bowl, will be held at Shanghai’s Oriental Sports Center on November 5 and 6.

Ten players, along with six coaching staff, from AFL sides Philadelphia Soul and Arizona Rattlers will be making the China trip. The Soul defeated the Rattlers 56-42 in front of some 13,390 fans at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on August 26. It was their second Arena Bowl Championship victory.

Philadelphia’s equipment managers Tyler Newhart and Shawn Cronin will make the trip to China to supervise the preparations of CAFL. Newhart will take up the role of Head Equipment Manager and Cronin will be his right hand man. Kevin Sze, trainer for the Soul, will work as the CAFL’s Head Trainer. He will be responsible for getting the players ready for the tournament.

When it comes to making a game plan, the man who guided Philadelphia to the title will try to do the same when he takes up the coaching role for Beijing Lions during CAFL. Clint Dolezel, head coach of the Soul, was also named as the AFL Coach of the Year. Soul’s offensive lineman Adam Smith will assist Dolezel. Also, Philadelphia assistant coach Steve Criswell will work as assistant coach for the Qingdao Clipper.

On the field, linebacker Tyre Glasper Jr and defensive lineman Luis Vasquez, both from the Arizona Rattlers, will play side by side for the Guangzhou Power in China. Glasper was a member of this season’s All-Arena first team defense.

Eight players from Philadelphia will be in action in China. Four of them will continue playing for their coaches representing Beijing. Offensive linemen Neal Tivis and Wayne Tribue will join quarterback Luke Collis and defensive back James Romain on the Lions’ roster.

Philadelphia’s offensive wide receiver Shawn Kauleinamuki, who had eight receptions for 110 yards and three touchdowns in the AFL final, will be playing for Shanghai Skywalkers. Joining him in Shanghai are Philadelphia teammates defensive back Dwayne Hollis and defensive lineman Justin Lawrence.

Qingdao Clipper will also get one of the AFL’s top talents -- Philadelphia defensive lineman Jake Metz, an All-Arena First Team Defense selection.

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