The Chief Executive of Showtime Flag Football in Nigeria, Manal Nasser is reeling lyrical after the successful completion of the body’s first professional league and she is now thinking big of a bright future.
Manal Nasser disclosed that her hope was rekindled after seeing the depth of talent that was enacted during Showtime Bowl Series XI.
The competition came to a close on Sunday, with Spartans edging Warriors 58-53 at Meadow Hall in Lekki, Lagos, and Nassar said it was a wonderful event.
Though it was actually the second edition of Showtime Flag Football League (SFFL) in Nigeria, Nasser admitted that the sport is still new in the country, but pointed out that many giant steps have already been taken.
She enthused further in an exclusive interview with sports247.ng: “To be honest, flag football is a new sport coming into Nigeria.
“It’s a very new sport, and we’re still trying to recognise the way we can grow.
“What we are trying to do is to really highlight the fact that flag football is truly an incredible sport.”
She then gave an insight into some rules for this variation of American Football, but through which points are scored with flags removed from an opponent’s body, instead of tackling, and it can be played with mixed gender teams.
Nasser expatiated. “We have players from the age of 17. Some are even 40 and above. It’s also for women and men playing on the same team.
“This means equality is here. It doesn’t matter about your strength; anything can work here with your dedication to the game.
“It’s a co-ed game and the only sport in the world where men and women play together in the same team at the same time.”
The Showtime Bowl CEO then gave credit to everyone who has made the progress of flag football possible in Nigeria, starting with those she tagged the sport’s fans community.
“Our progress so far is about the community we have here,” Nasser pointed out.
“We have an amazing community that comes out for every single game.
“It’s their trust in us and belief in this sport that make us flag out to the rest of the world.
“Our aim and target is to show the rest of the world that this is a sport that should be up there with football.
“It should be up with rugby and every other sport in the world.”
She buttressed her view about the rapid growth of flag football in Nigeria with a revelation that they are already thinking about knicking a spot at the next Olympic Games, considering the array of talents in the country.
Nasser continued, “We are now going to the Olympics, because they have agreed that this is an incredible sport.
“We want to do more on the field to prove to the world the kind of talent Nigeria really has. There is also a whole lot of talent in this league.
“We’ve had this for a couple of years in Nigeria, but this is the first time we’ve gone professional.
“This means the owners have to pay their players. They have to bring them to the venue and pay them to play like professional athletes.
“The fact that we managed to do such this year is incredible, and I’m happy to be part of it.
“This is my first year with Showtime, and we are now pro. This is great, and we can only go higher than where we already are now.”
Nasser concluded by charging sports officials in Nigeria to give more respect to flag football, considering the large number of spectators, young and old, that thronged the venue of last Sunday’s final.
“I am just elated by the size of the crowd here. We are so full and up to capacity. There are even many people standing.
“They don’t even mind whether they sat or stood during the games – they just flow into the energy.
“Another fact is that this sport is so relatable with age. You can be 16 or 40, any age … you are welcome.
“There’s a nine-year-old kid who is one of our youngest fans, and he’s always here every week to watch the matches.
“He’s dedicated, and his presence gives us hope. The fact that we’re already putting this sport into the minds of the youth allows them to think they too can do it.
“That makes me the happiest person here, knowing that Nigeria’s talent is on another level,” Nasser eulogised.
