Israel national American football team

Israel Israel ישראל
Home
Away
Association AFI
Region Europe (EFAF)
Founded 2012
IFAF Affiliation
Colors Blue and White
Head coach Yonah Mishaan
Defensive Coordinator Lewis Henry Esler Duker
General manager Neria Granevich

The Israel national American football team is the official American football senior national team of Israel. The team formed in 2012 mainly of Israeli Football League players and coaching staff.

First Game

The first international American football game played by Israel was played 17 May 2012 in Baptist village near Petah Tikva, when the Israeli national team met Maranatha Baptist Bible College.[1] For Israeli players it was first ever game on 100 yards field in 11 players team. In the IFL American football is played on 60 yard fields by 9 player teams (in 2012, the IFL played with 8 player teams). The game finished with a 49 - 6 Maranatha win.[2]

Competitions

The first official game in EFAF competitions took place on 30 August 2015 in Madrid. The opponents was Spain from EFAF C Group European Championship. As a new entry Israel could earn its way into Group B.[3] Israel won the game 28-20.[4]

Israel will thus play in the four team Group B European Championship in Italy in September 2016 with the winner of the four team tournament eligible for another qualifying round against either Denmark or Sweden,[5] the sixth and fifth place of the 2014 championship respectively, to the A Championship to be held in Germany in 2018.

Current Playing Squad

2015 Israel National American Football Team Playing Squad (vs Spain)
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Linemen

  • 51 Yonatan Eliyahu (Judean Rebels)
  • 60 Aviram Cohen (Raanana)
  • 68 Erez Pahima (Judean Rebels)
  • 72 Amir Nakar (Haifa Underdogs)
  • 75 Elad Ohana (Ramat haSharon Hammers)
  • 76 Ehud Sharon (Judean Rebels)
  • 79 Yaniv Kovalsky (Judean Rebels)

Defensive Linemen

  • 47 Sandro Kalandadze (Beer Sheva Black Swarm)
  • 50 Leon Gikher (Haifa Underdogs)
  • 65 Eyal Franfurter (Judean Rebels)
  • 67 Avia Shermak (Tel Aviv Pioneers)
  • 78 Uria Loberbom (Judean Rebels)
  • 97 Evyatar Hacohen (Rehovot Silverbacks)
  • 98 Idan Melchior (Beer Sheva Black Swarm)
  • 99 Yizhak Manshuri (Petah Tikva Troopers)

Linebackers

Defensive Backs

  • 20 Dani Eastman (Judean Rebels)
  • 21 Ariel Back (Judean Rebels)
  • 22 Ehud Klein (Beer Sheva Black Swarm)
  • 23 Ori Rafaelovich (Jerusalem Lions)
  • 24 Jason Hess (Judean Rebels)
  • 28 Guy Halberthal (Haifa Underdogs)
  • 31 Mica Allon (Haifa Underdogs)

Special Teams

All time results

Date Opponent Venue Final Score Competition Result MVP
30 August 2015  Spain Prado de Santo Domingo, Madrid, ESP 28 - 20
 EFAF European Championship Qualifier for Group B Win Dani Eastman [6]
02 September 2016  Italy Lignano Sabbiadoro, ITA 10 - 40
 EFAF European Championship Group B Semifinal Loss TBA
04 September 2016   Switzerland Lignano Sabbiadoro, ITA 0 - 51
 EFAF European Championship Group B third place match Loss TBA

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tepper, Greg (16 May 2012). "In 'grass roots miracle,' Israel national team to play its first football game". Times of Israel.
  2. ↑ "Israel's American football team debuts". Foxsports. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Israel's national football team heads to Spain for first int'l showdown". Jerusalem Post. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  4. ↑ Israel's Football Team Defeats Spain in First International Game
  5. ↑ Israel’s tackle football team to compete in Europe
  6. ↑ "Israel Beats Spain In First International Game to Qualify for IFAF Europe's Group B". American Football International. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
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