MEXICO’S LIGA DE FUTBOL AMERICANO PROFESIONAL TO SHOWCASE TOP PLAYERS FOR CFL SCOUTS
January 13 Combine and January 14 Draft will feature Mexican pros and university seniors who hope to play in Canada
MEXICO CITY (December 27, 2018) — Canadian Football League scouts will have an opportunity to evaluate and recruit some of the best football talent in Mexico next month.
Mexico’s Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional is hosting a combine on January 13 for leading pros and university seniors who hope to play in Canada with a draft to follow on January 14.
Estadio Azul, a 33,000-seat stadium in Mexico City, will be the site of the combine as 45 athletes participate in the bench press (225 lbs), vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash, 3-cone, short shuttle and positional drills as well as interviews with representatives of CFL teams.
“This is an exciting step forward for our partnership with the LFA,” said Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner of the CFL.
“Over time, we want to expand the CFL’s international footprint, and grow the game of football everywhere, by giving the world’s top players access to our league and providing more young Canadians an opportunity to play and develop in other countries before possibly returning to play in the CFL.” Prior to the 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw last month in Edmonton, the CFL and LFA signed a letter of intent that will see them work together on several projects including possible CFL games in Mexico.
CFL teams are scheduled to open their training camps for the 2019 season on Sunday, May 19. The season begins on Thursday June 13 when the Saskatchewan Roughriders face off against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Edmonton will host Montreal on Friday June 14 and the Calgary Stampeders will launch the defense of their championship on Saturday June 15 when they host the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Opening week wraps up with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers travelling to BC to play the Lions.
The 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw will be played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Sunday November 24 at 6 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local time).