#By TENAJH SWEETING
#Tribune Sports Reporter
#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net
#The second edition of the Bahamas All-Pro Football Camp will get underway on Saturday, June 24 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium. The star-studded camp will get take place from 12-3pm.
#The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTC) powered event will serve an instructional camp for the youth and will allow for them to interact with some household names from the National Football League (NFL). After seeing the immense support they garnered last year from bringing eight NFL players and hosting 220 kids, event organisers are determined to go even bigger this year.
#Johnathon Lord, sports marketer for the event, talked about why they decided to host the football camp again in The Bahamas.
#“I thought it would be a great idea because I have seen the tremendous progression that has happened with football in The Bahamas, in particular the flag leagues… the success of last year’s event was so great that we had no choice but to bring it back again this year,” Mr Lord said.
MIKE Strachan of the Indianapolis Colts. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
#The camp staff at this year’s event will not only include returning NFL players but also the Bahamas’ Michael Strachan who plays as a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. Professional players who will be joining Strachan at the camp include Los Angeles Chargers’ wide receiver Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, John Hightower, Miami Dolphins’ Cedrick Wilson Jr and Duke Riley, safety Dayarlo Jamal Swearinger, and Arizona Cardinals’ Rashad Fenton. There are also two surprise players that will be in attendance.
#The Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture is once again working in conjunction with the Bahamas All-Pro Football Camp for the second consecutive year.
#For last year’s event, the camp capped off at 220 participants and there were 400 more individuals on the waiting list. However, event organisers are allowing 300 persons maximum to sign up this year. Despite registration only opening on Tuesday, 101 persons have already signed up for June’s football camp.
#Lord acknowledged that it is unfortunate that they have a limited capacity but he noted the growing love that Bahamians have for football as a sport. Additionally, he talked about how impressed he was with the direction football is taking in The Bahamas following yesterday’s announcement of the country being the first to join NFL Flag Football.
#“I love it as a Bahamian born and raised here I have been blessed to do a lot with pro athletes in the USA so to see The Bahamas with the NFL Flag [football] partnership and camps there is raw talent in The Bahamas when it comes to football, while it is not a primary sport, yet there is an opportunity to create professional and collegiate opportunities for athletes,” he said.
#The All-Pro Football Camp will have one camp session for children ages 7-18. Participants will have the opportunity to compete in 1 versus 1 position competition, relay races, and receive autographs from the professionals.
#For the VIP session which takes place before the camp, persons will partake in an intimate experience. It will feature a question and answer session, they will get an 8×10 picture signed as well as a personal item.
#The VIP experience is limited to 100 persons including those registered and parents as well as 25 non-camp participants.
#For campers interested the cost will be $55, parents are $75, and outside participants are $100.
#Individuals that require more information on registration can check out the Bahamas Youth Flag Football League (BYFFL) Facebook page or https://go.netcamps.com/events/3610-2023-bahamas-all-pro-football-camp.