IFAF: Team World 2012 announces first 12 players including 6 Canadians (videos)

IFAF ANNOUNCES FIRST OF 12 PLAYERS NAMED TO WORLD TEAM ROSTER TO FACE USA IN ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BOWL

The International Federation of American Football has announced the first 12 players named to the IFAF World Team roster that will face Team USA in USA Football’s International Bowl on Wednesday, February 1 in Austin, Texas.

The state capital will host the third annual game – formerly known as USA vs. The World – when an IFAF World Team of teenage football players led by Canadian head coach GREG MARSHALL takes on American’s Under-19 National Team, composed of current high school seniors (class of 2012). Both teams will field a 50-player roster for the game at The Palace Round Rock ISD Stadium in Austin.

Eight of the 12 IFAF selections will be prepared for what lies ahead in Austin as they boast either previous World Team or Development Team experience.

“It is important that we are able to bring back some experienced players who can become leaders on our team during what will be a short time together to prepare to face Team USA,” said coach Marshall. “There are some very talented players emerging around the world and I am excited to work with them and to announce further selections in the coming weeks.”

Returning at wide receiver is 2011 IFAF World Team MVP, Canadian TEVAUN SMITH, who scored the first ever touchdown conceded by the U.S. U19 national team in all competitions when he returned a kickoff 79 yards to the end zone when the teams met in February 2011. Smith plays at the Kent School in Connecticut and has helped his team to six straight wins to open the current season.

Two more Canadians, offensive lineman MATTHIAS GOOSSEN of Simon Fraser University and defensive back MARCUS GRANDISON of York University, were also members of the 2011 IFAF World Team as was Austrian pair, running back ANDREAS HOFBAUER and wide receiver LAURINHO WALCH. Earning a third selection is defensive end DAVID KATINA from American Samoa, who lined up for the IFAF World Team in both 2010 and 2011.

In 2011 IFAF established a Development Team Program for younger players and two prospects who have progressed to the full IFAF World Team roster are Australian offensive lineman ADAM GOTSIS and Japanese running back SHINGO MAEDA.

Newcomers to the roster are defensive end SONNY SANITOA of American Samoa, who plays college football in the United States at UNLV and three Canadians: defensive end ELI ANKOU (Red Lion Academy), defensive end FAITH EKAKITIE (Lake Forest Academy) and defensive back KALVIN JOHNSON (University of Western Ontario).

Players selected to the IFAF World Team

Player	Pos	Ht	Wt	Country	Club / school	World Team
David Katina	DE	6-3	250	American Samoa	Hawaii	2010 & 2011
Sonny Sanitoa	DE	6-4	235	American Samoa	UNLV
Adam Gotsis	OL	6-5	262	Australia	Monash Warriors	2011 Dev Team
Andreas Hofbauer	RB	5-11	206	Austria	Swarco Raiders Tirol	2011
Laurinho Walch	WR	5-11	148	Austria	Raiffeisen Vikings	2011
Tevaun Smith	WR	6-1	187	Canada	Kent School	2011
Matthias Goossen	OL	6-3	290	Canada	Simon Fraser Univ.	2011
Eli Ankou	DE	6-3	245	Canada	Red Lion Academy
Faith Ekakitie	DE	6-3	285	Canada	Lake Forest Academy
Marcus Grandison	DB	6-0	215	Canada	York University	2011
Kalvin Johnson	DB	5-9	180	Canada	Univ. Western Ontario
Shingo Maeda	RB	5-10	191	Japan	Kansai University	2011 Dev Team

Tevaun Smith, RB, Canada, 6-1, 187, Kent School

Wide Receiver Tevaun Smith finished his post-grad first year at Kent School, a Preparatory school located in Kent, Connecticut… has been playing for ten years… first-ever player to score a touchdown against a Team USA Team in the 2011 Team USA vs. the World game… previously played at Chaminade School… played for the IFAF World Team in 2010 scoring on a kickoff return… greatest football memory is defeating the No. 1 ranked team in NESPAC conference in New England… looking forward to meeting and playing with the best players from around the world… favorite NFL team is San Diego Chargers…favorite NFL player is Dez Bryant.

Matthias Goossen OL, Canada, 6-3, 290, Simon Fraser University

Matthias Goossen, an offensive lineman from Canada, completed his first season with Simon Fraser University… has been playing for 11 years… helped SFU defeat Dixie State in triple overtime for the school’s first conference win in NCAA DII play…previously played for Richmond Raiders and Vancouver College Prep… named Best Lineman in Grade 10 & 11 and Team MVP in Grade 12… looking forward to playing against the top players from the United States… speaks French and English… favorite NFL team is Indianapolis Colts… favorite NFL player is Peyton Manning… future ambition is to get a degree in communications from SFU and play in the CFL.

Eli Ankou, DE Canada, 6-3, 245, Red Lion Academy

Plays at Red Lion Academy… the 6-3, 230 pound defensive end is being recruited by top US programs receiving scholarship offers from UCLA, Vanderbilt and Virginia… also received interest from Rutgers, Pittsburg, Arkansas, Notre Dame, Buffalo and Syracuse… played his first season of organized football in 2009.

Faith Ekakitie, DE, Canada, 6-3, 285, Lake Forest Academy

Plays at Lake Forest Academy in Illinois… a four-star 6-3, 285-pound defensive lineman who made back to back official visits at Boston College and Iowa… has received 30 offers from top US programs… moved from Canada to play high school sports at Lake Forest Academy located outside of Chicago, Illinois… also plays basketball… his family is originally from Nigeria.

Marcus Grandison, DB, Canada 6-0, 215, York University

Completed his first season at York University… previously played for Chaminade College School… has eight years of football experience… also played for North York Grizzlies and Metro Toronto Wildcats… named OVFL All-Star in 2009… 2010 GTA All-Canadian… 2009 MVP for both Toronto Wildcats and Chaminade College… most influential person is his mother who gave him strength to continue… greatest football memory is playing in the 2011 USA v World game… looking forward to showcasing his skills on a world class stage… favorite player is Troy Polamalu… favorite NFL team is Baltimore Ravens. (Picture #5)

Kalvin Johnson, DB, Canada, 5-9, 180, Western Mustangs

Defensive back for the University of Western Ontario Mustangs… has eight years of football experience… previously played for St. Marguriete d’Youville Secondary, Brampton Bulldogs and Team Ontario… named BMFA MVP and Canada Cup defensive MVP… greatest football memory is winning the provincial championship… most influential person is his father… most looking forward to beating Team USA… favorite NFL player is Darrelle Revis… favorite NFL team is New York Jets. (Picture #21)