The teams on the pitch may be the same, but the second ever Desert Bowl promises to be a much bigger experience than its inaugural edition this Friday.
Based at Dubai Sports City, Desert Bowl II will be a feast of the country’s American football playing population as finals for every league in the Emirates American Football League (EAFL) takes place on the day.
Starting at 12 noon, the PeeWee final will start the proceedings, before the games continue in age ascending order – Junior Varsity, Varsity and Senior. The final game is expected to finish at 9pm.
In true American football fashion, the season showpiece will be more than just a sporting occasion. Held at the more modest Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence last year, the EAFL have their season finale in the more rarefied air of Dubai Sports City that provides a huge stand and corporate facilities, offering a perfect view of the action.
Pageantry and entertainment off the field are sometimes treated as more important than what happens on the field.
The EAFL have plenty in store as well as a few surprises. Apart from the usual food and adult beverages, there will be entertainment such as face painting, bouncy castles and flag football all to the soundtrack of local music maestro DJ Alaad.
As for the surprises, you’ll have to go down to Sports City to see what they are.
Admission is free and the event will be live streamed on the internet while the ActiveStar cheerleading team add the extra touch to the genuine American experience.
On the pitch, the intrigue and innovation is as high as ever. The senior final between the Dubai Stallions and Abu Dhabi Wildcats promises to be mouth watering with no quarter given.
The Wildcats are defending champions and desperate to keep their firm grasp on the trophy. Their season hasn’t always been easy, finishing the regular season with a .500 record of three wins and three losses having gone the whole of last season unbeaten.
But they bounced back in incredible style in the Desert Bowl semi-finals, thrashing a shell-shocked Dubai Barracudas 40-0 with returning MVP Vivaldi Tulysse at his brilliant best.
The Stallions come in as the form team. The boys from Dubai are still hurting from their Desert Bowl loss last season and are desperate for revenge.
It would be fair to say that Andre Sommersell’s team have been the best in the league so far this year, having gone unbeaten throughout the season – with only a draw against the Barracudas in the last game of the season standing between them and a perfect record – as well exhibiting the best offense and defence in the league.
Their 47-7 victory over the Al Ain Desert Foxes allowed them to give some much needed rest to key personnel and they will be up for the challenge this weekend.
The action is sure to be the best there is to offer from a league that is growing in standard and stature at a rapid pace. The EAFL are promising the full American experience. Make sure you are part of it.
What: The Desert Bowl II
When: Friday, March 14
Where: Dubai Sports City
Contact: E-mail Dustin Cherniawski at [email protected], or call at +971 50 9092218
