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Arena Football continues to develop international talent

May 5, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO -After five weeks of the af2 season, 12 Japanese players are on af2 rosters, including two who have been put on active rosters within the past few weeks.

Kenta Yagi and Takuya Furutani highlight the list of Japanese players who are learning and playing the game of Arena Football. Both players have been put on the active roster for the Louisville Fire recently. Yagi is a quarterback and Furutani is a wide receiver/defensive back.

"I was so excited when I was on the field in uniform," said Furutani. "It was like a dream come true."

While Furutani's first time on an active roster was this season, Yagi was with Albany in 2003 where he became the first international-born player to throw a touchdown in Arena Football history. He was assigned to Manchester for the 2004 season, but prior to joining the Wolves in camp, Yagi played for a team of all-stars from Japan as they took on the Louisville Fire in a preseason game on Sunday, March 21. Yagi was 17-of-35 for 158 yards and three touchdowns against the Fire.

Following the game, Yagi was to board a flight to Manchester and report to Wolves camp, but Coach Johnson had different ideas and traded for his rights the next morning.

"We played against him in the exhibition game and liked what he did," said Johnson. "Kenta has a quick release and is very smart with the ball."

Yagi learned about the trade as he was preparing to make his flight on Monday morning. Instead he cancelled the flight and returned to the Fire's training camp.

"I think the Arena Football League is a well-developed organization that has a clear vision for the growth of the sport," said Yagi. "From an international standpoint, I see the League doing a tremendous job to develop the sport world-wide."

af2 held its second annual International Player Draft back in February and 14 players were allocated to training camp rosters of af2 teams. By rule, af2 teams can add two additional practice squad spots to their roster if the two players are of international decent. The draft, expanded roster rule, international preseason games and the player participation from guys like Yagi and Furutani are just the first steps in a long-term international program for Arena Football.

"If we are going to take this game worldwide we need to continue to have events like we had with Japan and what Columbus and Quad City have done with Australia," said Johnson. "The international players pick the game up very quick."

"I think in the future you will see a tremendous influx of international talent to both leagues. I also see this game being able to go world-wide and make a significant mark on the international sports culture." Johnson added.

af2 has already graduated its first international players to the AFL. Clarence Moniba and Mutsumi Takahashi were both added to the New York Dragon's practice squad roster this season after spending time in af2. This week Takahashi is being put on the active roster for the first time and will dress for the Dragons game this Saturday.

"Playing Arena Football has been a life-changing event for me," said Takahashi. "The AFL gives international players opportunities to make our dreams come true. I am impressed by the dedication and passion of the AFL to spread the sport world-wide."

It's success stories like Takahashi that prove the efforts of the Arena Football League to develop the sport internationally really do work.

"We are excited to be able to continue our efforts to make Arena Football an international sport," said Jerry Kurz, AFL Vice President of International Development. "These players represent only a fraction of what we will see in the years to come as the interest in this game grows."

Following is a list of the 12 Japanese players who are currently on af2 rosters:

TEAM NAME POSITION
Bakersfield Jun Nobuhara FB/LB
Hawaii Takamasa Suzuki FB/LB
Memphis Takeshi Shinjo QB
Wichita Tsukasa Miyamoto FB/LB
Louisville Kenta Yagi QB
Florida Fuminori Sato WR/LB
Hawaii Teruhiro Ura WR/DB
Louisville Takuya Furutani WR/DB
Bakersfield Daisuke Ueki WR/DB
Bossier-Shreveport Hiroyuki Morimoto WR/DB
Memphis Toshihide Nakamura WR/DB
Wichita Sojiro Kido WR/DB



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