Games we play: American Football in Israel prepares to host international tourney

Germany's Waldorf Wanderers, Italy's national flag football team and two all-star teams made up of players from the US will face the best local talent.

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
American Football in Israel is hosting Israel's first-ever international football tournament this weekend. Germany's Waldorf Wanderers, Italy's national flag football team - which came in second at the 2005 European championships - and two all-star teams made up of players from the US will face the best local talent in the IDT Global Flag in Jerusalem tournament on Friday and Saturday at Kraft Family Stadium. "Thanks to the generosity of New England Patriots owners Robert and Myra Kraft, we now have a state-of-the art facility in Jerusalem to host this event and hopefully many others for years to come," said AFI president and co-founder Steve Leibowitz. The games will be played according to National Football League/International Federation of American Football rules, which specify a five-on-five, non-contact format. Most AFI leagues, including the Fieldturf Women's American Football in Israel league, play by the NFL/IFAF rules. Round-robin group stage games are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, while the playoffs kick off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night. The IDT Global Flag in Jerusalem championship game is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. Saturday night. For more information on American Football in Israel, visit www.israelfootball.net or contact Jay L. Abramoff at jay@israelfootball.net or 054-440-2659.