The Vaal Kings touched down three times to clinch an 18-0 win over the Johannesburg Harlequins in the opening match of the South African American Football League (SAAFL) at Benoni Northerns Sports Club on July 28.
The Kings scored a touchdown on the stroke of half-time and added two more before the end of the game to condemn Harlequins to their first home loss.
“It was a very physical and challenging game for both teams. Harlequins played well in the first two quarters. The third quarter was slow with lots of mistakes from both teams. The final quarter was intense and the Vaal Kings managed to win the match with three touchdowns,” said Harlequins captain Tyler Cawood.
According to Cawood, this was a historic match as it was the first American football game played since the 1980s in the country.
“We have restarted a legacy. We are trying to create a foundation and a safe place for all football players,” he said.
The SAAFL is made up of only four teams: Harlequins, Kings, Pretoria Battlehawks and Cape Town Stallions.
Cawood said they are looking to expand the league, adding that through their contacts in Kenya, Uganda and the Baltimore Rams in the USA, they will play in a mega-bowl tournament, where SAAFL players will be selected to represent SA.
On the popularity of the sport in the country, Cawood said there is interest because, adding that through the sport’s governing body in SA, Gridiron SA, which was established in 2015, they have grown “exponentially” since 2021.
“The National Football League (NFL) came to SA last year to collaborate and host a fan experience. They contacted us to help out in the event. There were more than 20 000 people in attendance, meaning American Football is popular.”
Cawood invited anyone interested in the sport to contact him on 065 992 2482.
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