USA Meets NY Jets While Mayor Welcomes Japan

The six youngsters representing the United States at the seventh annual NFL Flag Football World Championship (FFWC) in Cologne, Germany, next week were given some advice on how to take on the world by New York Jets first year head coach Eric Mangini.

The DAC Panthers from Queens and Long Island, NY, attended Jets preseason training camp at Hofstra University on Tuesday. Coach Mangini, along with standout wide receiver Laveranues Coles and defensive end Brian Thomas, wished the team good luck before they travel to take on the champions of Canada, China, Germany, Holland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain and Thailand at the Leichtathletik Stadion in Cologne from August 22 to 26.

“Work hard and do what you’re supposed to do on every play and success will follow,” coach Mangini told the captivated group. “Don’t worry if one play doesn’t turn out as you might expect. Just move on to the next play and make that one count.

“You are very privileged to be representing the United States, not only as ambassadors for New York and for the NFL, but also in another country. Go over there and enjoy yourselves.”

The flag champions: Kostas Akoumianakis (from Holliswood, Queens), Eddie Roscigno (Astoria, Queens), Brian Kruger (Bayside, Queens), Anthony Libroia (Flushing, Queens), Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset, Nassau County) and Nicholas Athanasopoulos (Roslyn, Nassau County) won the NFL Flag National Tournament of Champions title at the Disney Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, in November.

“I couldn’t believe we got to meet the coach and a whole bunch of players,” said an excited Eddie Roscigno (pictured below being interviewed by NYJets.com). “Even a star player like Laveranues Coles talked to us and told us to be good over in Germany and to make him proud and come back as champions. It was incredible.”

Panthers coach Jimmy Gavalas, whose team’s visit to camp was featured by local TV news crews, print media and NYJets.com, added: “I don’t think the enormity of what they’re doing had hit these kids before today. They have made TV appearances and taken those in their stride, but now here they are meeting their favorite players and leaving for Germany on Monday. It’s an exciting time for them and for me as their coach and for the 29 family and friends who will be traveling with us.

Meanwhile in Kawasaki the city's Mayor Abe met with the Fujitsu Junior Frontiers (below), the team that will fly the flag for Japan at the NFL Flag Football World Championship. The team and coaching staff received words of encouragement from Mayor Abe before departing for Cologne.

The progress of all ten teams competing in the FFWC can be followed on www.NFL-Flag.com, which will be updated from Cologne with news, photos, quotes, results, statistics and a daily blog, which kicked off after the Team USA visit to New York Jets camp. The NFL is proud to partner with Reebok, EA and Gatorade and promote this prestigious coed tournament, which motivates boys and girls to participate in a fun and safe sport.