How You Can Bring American Football to West Africa

In the article ‘Meet the Dockers of Treichville published a few months back on American Football International in September, we highlighted the successes and struggles of the Treichville Dockers of the Ivory Coast in Africa.

Olivier Rival of “Le Petit Monde du Sport” interviewed Eric Kouakou, one of the founders and creators of the Dockers, about this exciting new organization in the Côte d’Ivoire.

Eric Kouakou

Eric Kouakou gaining recognition from the American embassy for his efforts

As the story points out, the organization has been working for 13 years to put together a semblance of an American football organization and the wheels are finally beginning to turn.

As mentioned Eric Kouakou, has been in touch with a wide variety of people, one of whom is Dan Miles, head coach of the St. Petersburg Tide from the PSAFL, general manager of the PSAFL and General Director of TUSAAFSS INC.

Dan Miles and equipment

Dan Miles has this equipment and more ready to go

Eric Kouakou contacted Dan regarding a blog Dan was writing – American football in Africa. Kouakou told him the story of the Dockers and Miles began pulling strings within his own team and league.

To date, Miles has now assembled enough jerseys, pants, helmets and shoulders pads for one entire team. Miles intends to ship the equipment to the Dockers in the Ivory Coast in Africa but at this point does not have the means to do so.

Fittingly, Africa has produced more NFL players than most people realize as the website African Ballerz  points out.

“We are working on several different avenues to get this shipped over,” said Miles. “We are confident we can make this happen, and bring football to a part of the world where it is needed badly.”

Dockers2

The Dockers need equipment and coaching

In order for the Dockers to get the American football help needed they need your assistance.

If you can in any way help out with shipping, or if you know someone who can, please lend a help hand to this project led by Dan Miles. You can contact him at: d[email protected].

To learn more reach out to us at American Football International at [email protected].

Roger Kelly is an editor and a writer for AFI. A former PR Director the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League for 7 years, he now lives in Sweden writing about and scouting American Football throughout the world.