Dubai : The Americans couldn't have timed it any better.
With memories of the football World Cup - or soccer World Cup as they prefer to call it - slowly beginning to fade, Rex Stevenson and his newly-formed American Football Academy (AFA) have stepped in with a plan of ambushing the football-mad UAE and turning them into American Football fanatics.
And after two sessions at the quintessentially American Little League Baseball field, they are beginning to believe they might have a plan after all. They have hit the ground running by holding open try-out sessions to select a UAE team, to be known as the UAE Stallions.
At the second open try-out session last weekend, six expats turned up under the searing afternoon sun looking to impress head coach Stevenson.
"We had 11 in the first session and only one Emirati has come forward so far," he said, sweat streaming down his weather-beaten face.
"It's not as bad as it looks since there are three more sessions to come and I am looking at a roster of 33 expats at the moment to add to the 12 NFL players who will form the squad," he added.
Stevenson might even have found a few of the boys to his liking going by their performance on the day. "As you see, it's not just about build. It's about heart," he said.
Fear factor
Ben Patton, who has been living in Dubai since 2008, is a powerfully built Texan, a man who has played the game back in his hometown and Pennsylvania. Quick off the blocks and already displaying leadership qualities on the field, Patton believes while more and more expats will eventually join their fold, it will be difficult to get the locals involved. "It is the mind block associated with a sport as physical as this," he said. "We need to get the fear factor out of their minds."
His compatriot 30-year-old Marley Dominguez of Los Angeles agrees. "I am from a baseball background but this comes naturally to me. I know for a fact that Emiratis have been playing American Football at the Officers' Club since the '70s. They even have a league of their own. But it will be difficult to get them to play this sport seriously since it involves injuries and getting seriously hurt," he said.
One Arab American who isn't complaining is Arcan Murshid, of Saudi Arabian descent, who grew up in Virginia. He has just graduated and believes there's nothing better than giving it a go while looking for a job. "Back in my college in the States, we were already in the process of creating our own team. I really hope I get picked for the UAE Stallions when the day arrives," said the solidly built 21-year-old.
His fellow Arab Americans Sultan Madani, Nader Ayoub and Baraa Murshid, however, know they have a lot to do to make the grade. But they are hopeful for, as Stevenson says, it's more about heart.
Three more tries
The AFA are looking out for the best 33 athletes in the UAE aged 20 to 35 to compete for starting roster positions on the UAE Stallions. Open try-outs are scheduled at the Little League Baseball field at Al Quoz Pond Park on July 31, August 14 and August 28 from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. If interested, call 04-343 1443
Upperco has high hopes
The man who is assisting Rex Stevenson in forming the UAE Stallions team is none other than Dan Upperco, a former NFL player for the Los Angeles Raiders (now Oakland Raiders). He made Honorable Mention All Ivy with 26 catches, 377 yards and an incredible six touchdowns catches. He made 1st Team All Ivy twice and got a chance to crack the LA Raiders roster in 1985.
Today, he is the vice- president of NFL Retired Players Association.
"I came to the UAE six months ago and I am really keen to see American Football flourish here. Back in my days, I was considered a giant at 6ft 4in, so it's not necessary to be really big. American Football, like the coach says, is about heart, teamwork and a lot of discipline," he said.
