Honduras National Team / Photo Credit FENAFAH
Four International Federation of American Football (IFAF) member organizations from the Central American region came together from December 4th – 6th, 2015 in the capital city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The IFAF 2015 – 4 Nations Tournament featured the national teams of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Honduras National Team / Photo Credit FENAFAH
Honduras beat out the other contenders in this first round qualifying tournament and will compete at a future date against the winner of the next qualifying tournament between Panama and Costa Rica scheduled for 2016.
Juan Raskoff, President of the Federacion Nacional de Football Americano de Honduras (FENAFAH) stated
“It was a very competitive tournament. The 4 National Teams have a good football level.”
Guerreros of Nicaragua Team boasted a roster of 25 players. Unfortunately the Guerreros lost both games. The first loss was against (FENAFAH) Honduras National Team 22-0 and the second loss was against (SAAIF) El Salvador Big Blue Team 38-0 in the game for 3rd and 4th place.
Staying optimistic Eduardo Cordoba Samayoa, President of the Guerreros of Nicaragua commented
“The experience was good for a lot of the players. Most of them don’t have experience. Our team is young.”
(SAAIF) El Salvador Big Blue Team lost their opening game of the tournament against (AGFA) Guatemala Tigres Team 14-2. However the real challenge came for the Tigres in an OT showdown against (FENAFAH) Honduras National Team vying for the 2015 championship. The reigning 4 Nations champions prevailed once again by knocking out the Tigres 12-6.
Men’s Contact National Teams Overall Standings
1st Honduras – National Team
2nd Guatemala – Tigres
3rd El Salvador – Big Blue
4th Nicaragua – Guerreros
Women’s Flag Football
Nicaragua’s Pinoleras Team consisting of only 7 players lost 18-6 in the debut game of the tournament against (SAAIF) El Salvador Liberty Hawks Team. The Pinoleras then lost against (FENAFAH) Honduras National Team 34-0 in the game for 3rd and 4th place.
Noteworthy to mention is (FENAFAH) Honduras National Team first game of the tournament came up short by only 1 point against (AGFA) Guatemala Cobras Team. This gave the Cobras their first win 13-12.
The 2015 championship game between (AGFA) Guatemala Cobras Team and (SAAIF) Liberty Hawks Team resulted in a strong shut out win for the Cobras 38-0.
Guatemala Women’s Flag National Team Cobras / Photo Credit AGFA
Women’s Flag National Teams Overall Standings
1st Guatemala – Cobras
2nd El Salvador – Liberty Hawks
3rd Honduras – National Team
4th Nicaragua – Pinoleras
Coaches Clinic
Coaches Clinic / Paul Vincent Miraval / Photo Credit FENAFAH
Along with the great collaboration and sportsmanship the countries showed one another, the weekend was highlighted with a Coaches Clinic offered by HC U-19 Paul Vincent Miraval of France.
Coaches Clinic / Paul Vincent Miraval / Photo Credit FENAFAH
The tournament was officiated by international referees:
Mexico – Mario Matos
Mexico – Pedro Chavez
Sweden – Rodrigo Montecinos
France – Paul Vincent Miraval
Throw Back History
Honduras has a strong history of American football in the region. The sport was introduced to Juan Raskoff, President of FENAFAH and other curious Hondurans in 2001 by two marines from the USA Embassy. The marines taught them the basics of the sport.
Over the following years American football in Honduras has garnered players and fans. Although in recent years the sport has experienced a growth spurt and this year the FENAFAH hosted its VIII National Championship with 8 teams under its banner in the cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela.
FENAFAH has already undertaken the initiative to develop new teams in the cities of Ceiba, Choluteca and San Pedro Sula.
Juan Raskoff, President of FENAFAH, has been involved in a directive position with American football in Honduras for more than nine years and was elected to the presidency from 2010-2013 and was reelected for the term of 2014-2017.
Learn more about the Honduran league and teams by clicking on their Facebook profile names listed below and connecting with them.
Federacion Nacional de Football Americano de Honduras (FENAFAH)
Group Tegucigalpa
Group Comayaguela
CENTAUROS Team (must join group to view profile)