Kelsie Johnson

Guardian Sports Reporter

Two straight was the chant the Freeport Alliance squad sang when they boarded the plane to return home yesterday.

In grand fashion, once again, the Freeport Alliance Flag Football men’s team captured the annual Bahamas Flag Football Invitational. The Alliance team defeated visitors Cayman Islands 7-1, on Sunday. The female squad that represented the Cayman Islands trounced the local Pink Foxes 3-2.

Five female teams participated in the annual tournament, inclusive of Pink Foxes, the Cayman Islands women’s national team, Lynx, Heineken Lady Spartans and a female squad from Freeport. The Freeport Alliance was challenged by the Cayman Islands’ men’s squad, Heineken Spartans, and others.

The increase in teams has board members eager to get back to planning for next year. “Overall the tournament was excellent,” said Jayson Clarke, tournament director.

“In my view, this is the best that we have had in three years. The first year it was new so we were giving persons time to catch on. But the second time we hosted it, which was 2011, it was pretty good. It rained a whole lot, the entire three days in fact,” he added.

“But this time around, it was excellent. A higher calibre of players and games. The national teams from Cayman participated and the number one and two teams from Freeport. The champions from Nassau also lined up. So the level of play was very good, and the turnout in terms of fan support was great. The games were pretty well organized and games were run on time. To me, this is the best we have ever had.

“The sport has grown tremendously. We have had a couple of teams who had expressed interest, from the USA, to come down next year. So plans are already on the way. What we are going to do, to fast track that and make sure more teams come, is to publish the event from as early as February. The teams that want to come from further away, they can then plan properly and compete. We hope to have a more exciting tournament next year.”

The Pink Foxes are the New Providence-based champions defeating the Lady Spartans earlier in the year. According to Clarke, the improvements from all the teams, including Freeport has inspired more females to play.

On the weekend, Clarke said he was approached by several females who had expressed interest. They were also inquiring on how they can join teams or enter their own squads.

Clarke said: “The female participation has grown by leaps and bounds. We only had four teams in the tournament last year. This time around we had five teams competing. Three were from New Providence, one from Freeport and the other from Cayman Islands. With this year being the very first year for the female league, I think it was a very successful tournament. I do believe that more female teams will develop, because a couple of them have already registered and have gotten their foot in the door for next season. They’ve already gotten the rules and sponsorships.

“The male side – the interest has always been there. They’ve also gotten a lot of support from corporate sponsors. That is definitely encouraging and we are going to see, if we can top the 10 teams we had last year. We want to put even more teams in the league. I know for sure that the growth, on the women’s side, is going to be incredible. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have eight, or nine teams. Compared to the five we have had this year, the women will almost double.”

The annual invitational is the last event on the calendar for the sport in the country. The league will kick-off again in May, 2013.

For more on this story go to:

http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/sports/304058784948732.php