China University Football league All Stars to play Korea Tigers
The Korea Tigers will travel to Shanghai to face the China University American Football League (CUAFL) All-Stars Saturday April 29 at Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce, marking the first American football game in history between the Asian neighbors.
The match-up is presented by the National American Football League (NAFL)-the governing organization of the China Rugby Football Association, and coincides with the National Coaching and Referee clinics conducted by coach Jim Criner (AFCTA).
The CUAFL team is composed of players from 12 Shanghai university teams: Shanghai Jiatong University, Tongji University, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai University, Shanghai University of Engineering science, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong-liverpool University, China Jiliang University, Sichuan Normal University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, and led by head coach Aobo Zhu.
Defensive lineman Zhihao Tao #4
Zhu:
“Our players are longing to show the development of China College Football to the world and have more communication with teams from other counties. The game will be a good chance, not only to let the world know us, but also learn more, and have a great experience which can make us better”.
Linebacker Ye Zhang #26
Players to watch: Ce Gao (OT, SHU), Ye Zhang (LB, SJTU), Shifeng Chen (QB, SUES), Zhihao Tao (DL, ECUST).
The Korea Tigers are competing in their third international game in as many years. The Tigers are looking to rebound after a loss to the Philippines Aguilas All-Stars last February in Manila.
First year head coach Chaehwan Lim is optimistic that the Tigers can come away with a win stating “we have been training hard for this game since the cold of winter, and are looking forward to putting forward our best effort”.
Leading the Tigers is veteran captain Nam Kiho (Korea University, Seoul Vikings). When asked about the expectations the Tigers have for the game Nam had two words: “must win”.
