AFL Plans China-based Football Programme

A group led by Ron Jaworski was in Beijing on Monday to announce that the Arena Football League is working on establishing a football programme in China.

Jaworski said: “They will pick up on football very quickly. I watched the Olympics and watched those weightlifters, and I think I’d like to have some of those guys on my offensive line.”

The group will stage a series of exhibitions next fall, then launch what it hopes will be a six-team, 10-game schedule in October 2014.

Games will be held in the fall and winter to allow AFL coaches and trainers the freedom to come to China during their offseason and teach their Chinese counterparts how to build teams .

The league will begin as a mix of Chinese and American players, with the objectivel of converting to all-Chinese rosters as quickly as possible.”

AFL Philadelphia Soul co-Owner, Marty Judge said: “Our goal is in China, for China.”

Former NFL coach, Dick Vermeil is also supporting the project.{jcomments on}