PLFA kicks off second season in Poland

On April 14, the Polish American Football League (PLFA) kicks off its second season with a game between the defending league champion Warsaw Eagles and newcomers the Silesia Miners. The Silesian side is one of five new teams joining the PLFA this year, more than doubling the size of the league in comparison with last season. Along with the Katowice-based Miners, the Kraków Tigers, Poznań Goats, Szczecin Husaria and Wrocław Devils will join the Eagles, the Pomorze (Tri-city) Seahawks, Poznań Fireballs, and Wrocław Crew.

"The popularity of American football in Poland is increasing at a tremendous rate," says Jędrzej Stęszewski, the PLFA's commissioner. "Along with the nine teams already in the league, we have 11 more from around Poland that hope to join soon. Still, with the teams we have now, every major region of Poland is represented."

The nine teams are divided up into three divisions, with the winner of each gaining an automatic berth in the playoffs. The non-divisional winner with the best record will earn the remaining wild-card spot.

The season starts earlier than last year's, is longer, and will include a mid-season vacation break in the July-August period. The league moved the season into the warmer months of the year so as to make it more attractive for fans to attend games. Last year, the season began in autumn and concluded in mid-November, forcing fans at last year's championship game between the Eagles and Seahawks to endure frigid temperatures. This season's championship is scheduled for October 6.

This weekend's matchup figures to be interesting, as it pits last year's powerhouse against the team regarded as the most likely dark horse out of the batch of new sides. In a preseason game last month, the Miners trounced the Kraków Tigers, 58-0.

"Since we're the defending champs, every team will be gunning for us, and the Miners could shape up to be one of our toughest opponents," says the Warsaw Eagles' coach, Roman Picheta. "That means that not only will this season be longer, but tougher too. We're going to have to step up our game if we want to repeat last year's success," he adds.

In an effort to promote the sport outside of major population centers, this weekend's game will be held in Kutno, a couple of hours' drive from the capital. Kickoff is at 1 pm.

For more information, log on to www.pzfa.pl