Germans Niklas Liesen and Sven Breidenbach headed to CFL Combine
Offensive lineman Sven Breidenbach and linebacker Niklas Liesen have been extended invitations to showcase their skills for Canadian Football League (CFL) general managers, coaches and scouts in Toronto at the CFL Combine from March 26-28. The pair were among 37 players who participated in the CFL Global Combine in Germany, conducted in association with the German Football League (GFL).
“This event was a great way to finish the first month of the Global Combine tour and a terrific reminder of how far we’ve come in the past 12 months as partners with the GFL,” said CFL Chief Financial Officer and Head of Football Operations, Greg Dick. “We’re so grateful to have the GFL by our sides in growing this game globally.”
Peter Springwald, the German federation’s Vice-president of Sports Operations:
“We saw a strong competition for the spots in the main CFL Combine. All the players were extremely well prepared and lived up to the high standards of German American football.”
GLOBAL COMBINES
» British LB David Izinyon gets Toronto combine invite
» Italy’s Lorenzo Dalle Piagee earns invite to CFL combine
» Longhi: “It’s important that we have a global league”
» Through the Lens: Global Combine from Finland
Carsten Dalkowski, Chairman of the GFL:
“We are proud to send Sven Breidenbach, Niklas Liesen and additional GFL players to Toronto after Sebastian Sagne and Micky Kyei who both played in the GFL, were selected out of the Helsinki Combine.”
During the 2019 season, CFL rosters featured, for the first time ever, one designated ‘global player’ from outside the U.S. and Canada on each team’s active roster and as many as two more on their practice rosters. In 2020, the number of global players per team will increase to two on the active roster and up-to-three on the practice roster, with as many as 45 global players competing in the league.
Breidenbach was surprised at his selection:
“It was a big surprise for me to be selected directly. Although I had calculated I had an opportunity, I am also extremely self-critical. We had incredible depth today, so I wasn’t entirely sure. From now on it means I have to step on the gas!”
For Liesen, this was an entirely new experience:
“It was very exciting. I’ve never been to a big combine like this today. I was a little unsure in the beginning, but now I’m all the more happy. I will work hard to prepare well and do my best in Toronto. ”
The full list of global players invited to Toronto will be announced following the completion of the 10 Global Combines. The 2020 CFL Global Draft is slated for April 16.
So far, nine players have been chosen from the CFL Global Combines held in Finland, Sweden, and France. Joining Liesen and Breidenbach from the Finnish combine are Micky Kyei and Sebastien Sagne and from the combine in Sweden, defensive back William James.
The French combine produced receiver Anthony Mahoungou and defensive back Tony Anderson, both who have attended NFL camps. From the camp in Italy, defensive lineman Lorenzo Dalle Piagge has emerged with an invitation to Toronto while linebacker David Izinyon was picked from the combine held in Great Britain.
