The Sofia Bears played their first match in Serbia

At the local stadium in Kraljevo, in front of packed stands and with live performances of the Bulgarian and Serbian national anthems – that is how the game between the Sofia Bears and the hosts Kraljevo Royal Crowns began. It was also the first game played by a Bulgarian American football team in Serbia. Last summer the Bears crushed the Indjija Indians, who were visiting Sofia. This time, however, they were up against a team from the Serbian A Division, of a very good standard and with an excellent coaching staff.

The game started disastrously for the Bears – already in the first quarter they were 14:0 down, thanks to the fast running back and the excellent play of one of the two American players playing for the Royal Crowns. The Bulgarian offence’s efforts were nipped in the bud by the Serbs’ solid defence and by the injuries troubling key players in the Bulgarian team. In the second half the level of play evened out: the Bulgarian defence stopped the opponents’ surging offence, and the Bears came up with an interception and several forced fumbles. Even so, the difficulties on offence remained. The offence did nonetheless produce a few very good passes and began to gain yards, which, however, never turned into points on the scoreboard. In the final quarter, several more excellent plays by the Serbian team’s receivers, as well as by their quarterback – a Serbian youth international – put an end to the Bulgarians’ hopes of at least a respectable defeat.

The final score of 0:48 was fully deserved on the basis of what was shown on the field. On the other hand, the Bears never managed to unleash the potential they had shown in their last 2 games. The many injuries and new signings took their toll, but this will in no way stop the Bears from giving their all and defending the national tricolour in 2 weeks’ time, when they face the Bucharest Warriors in Romania. So far the record between the two teams stands at 2:2, so both teams will be very determined to win and to show which country is further ahead in the development of this extremely interesting and exciting sport.

Anton Doykov

Sofia Bears
www.teamsofia.org