Target to grow NFL flag in the Pacific

The NFL (National Football League) general manager Australia, New Zea-land and Pacific Charlote Offord believes that they should be growing the sport in the region.

“As part of our international growth strategy, we want to bring the NFL flag to the Pacific and grow the participation of our game,” she said yesterday.

Offord said they have visited a few schools where they conducted their clinics.

“These were primary schools in different villages,” she said.

Offord said the goal is to introduce to the Fijian community the game of flag football.

She highlighted that there are opportunities for Fijian players who are interested in the sport.

“We want to lay the foundation so that we can actually continue to teach people the game. At the same time give youths in the market an opportunity to play the game and to understand it.”

Offord said in the US they’re always looking for talents globally and when they are identified they can get college scholarships to study and play in the US.

She emphasised that it’s their goal is to grow the sport and continue the platform of playing NFL flag.

“The goal is for us to come here, continue to come back, but also while we’re not here, to have a platform where flag continues to be played,” Offord said.

She also confirmed that there have been positive responses from schools in the last few days.

“The response has been absolutely exce-tional. We came here with no real expectation of what we could do here and what the sport would do here. Obviously with the hope that we could engage and inspire a whole tonne of kids has really come along,” she said.

Offord added that their first clinic in Suva, had over than 300 children turning up to participate.

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