The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia. net

THE war of words between local football organisations continues with the Commonwealth American Football League (CAFL), the latest to weigh in on the controversy.

Flanked by newly elected CAFL president Antonio Maycock, and representatives from the Orry J Sands Pros and the Fast Track Jets yesterday, CAFL executive Mike Foster sought to set the record straight on several issues, chiefly putting an end to the argument over which organisation is responsible for the sport in the country.

“The Commonwealth American Football League wishes to remind all that it is the governing body for American football in the entire country of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, a privilege it has held for the last 45 years.”

Foster outlined the turbulent relationship between the CAFL and the recently formed Bahamas American Football Federation (BAFF), which has laid claim to the “governing body” title in preparation for the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag Football World Championships in 2016.

“Recently a rogue group calling themselves the Bahamas American Football Federation has been parading itself with the assistance of a local media personality as the ‘the one and only federation for American Football in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas’ to the international world,” he said. “This rogue organisation is headed by one Lalisa Anthony, an American foreigner, who invaded our shores, first in 2006 on a B2 Passport - purporting that she came to introduce American football to the Bahamas - a sport that has been first played since the late 1950s and as an organised league since 1970,” he said.

“Sometime around 2010, under pressure, Ms Anthony disappeared from the local landscape although there were reports to the CAFL of her sighting now and again. However, and recently, Ms Anthony has reappeared in her typical ordering and aggressive manner and it is interesting that her re-emergence is at a time when there is a hive of football activity in the Bahamas, other than our local contact and flag football events.”

He also had strong words for Freeport News columnist Fred Sturrup, who has facilitated the resurgence of BAFF on the local scene.

“Today a revived propaganda programme has commenced with a slew of news articles by Fred Sturrup, praising and congratulating Ms Anthony and the BAFF to enhance her image and promoting her latest agenda, which appears to be a takeover of flag football in the Bahamas,” he said.

“We do not recognise a body purporting to be the recognised body of the International Federation of American Football for the Bahamas. We have no relation with IFAF nor have we ever expressed any interest. We declare that no foreign led entity will be allowed to ‘waltz’ into our country, set up shop, cohort with international bodies and then tell us they are in charge with un-nationalistic Bahamians seeking to proffer their own egos and pockets.”

In relation to the IFAF 2016 World Championships, Foster said the BAFF has no jurisdiction to usurp the various flag football leagues in their bid to host the event.

“The CAFL has no interest in membership in IFAF and this was stated to them way back in 2009. We however do not speak for the Bahamas Flag Football Leagues as we acknowledge that there are international flag tournaments that they would naturally have a participating interest. The governing body, as expressed, would support such endeavours, but will not support any endeavour that may seek to erode the foundation of what was established by our forebears for the last 50 years,” he said.

“The CAFL’s primary objective is to steer and develop our young men toward scholarship opportunities to Canadian and American colleges and universities. Our efforts have been within an expensive sport and with very little funding. We thank the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and its minister and directors for the help over the years and for the continued recognition of the CAFL as the governing body for American football in the country.”

Thus far, several leagues led by the Bahamas Flag Football league have voiced their concerns over BAFF and its assumed position.

The BAFF has responded with several statements of their own, most notably a press conference led by Ms Anthony who said: “The BAFF is the national governing body, which was confirmed August 31, 2015 by the Ministry of Tourism in its letter to the IFAF in full support of the BAFF serving as host of the IFAF 2016 Flag Football World Championship. As the national governing body, the BAFF is not charged with the day-to-day operation of the sport leagues, associations, clubs, etc. It is the responsibility of the various leagues, associations, clubs, etc to determine and work toward, in alignment with their local resources, how much the sport grows and develops. Therefore, although the BAFF may serve as a conduit, it is the primary task of these groups to grow the sport throughout the country.”

Foster said: “We intend to communicate our position to the government of the Bahamas, the IFAF and the Popeye’s Bowl Committee. Further, we will bring official charges once again to the attention of the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Department of Immigration.”