AFL China’s mission to take indoor football to Asia begins with a stop in the middle of the Pacific.
The league is aiming to kick off its inaugural season in China in the fall of 2014 and is promoting the venture with a two-game exhibition tour starting with today’s AFL China All-Star Game at Blaisdell Arena.
The rosters for today’s game feature some of the top performers in the Arena Football League along with a few local players eager for the chance to play in the games today and Nov. 10 in Beijing.
"It’s great to travel the world through football," said former University of Hawaii kicker Kenton Chun, who will handle kicking duties for the West team.
Opportunity is the operative word surrounding the game, which is set for 4 p.m. and will be streamed online on ESPN3.
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Arena Football AFL China All-Star Gam
>> When: Today, 4 p.m.
>> Where: Blaisdell Arena
>> Broadcast: ESPN3 >> Tickets: Blaisdell Box Office and Ticketmaster outlets. Online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000 >> Pregame: Free fanfest starting at 10 a.m., pregame concert featuring Jordis Unga, Jasmine Trias and Nesian NINE at 1 p.m.
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Chun was among the local players who took part in a tryout in March to supplement the rosters that include five players from the two-time ArenaBowl champion Arizona Rattlers and six from the Philadelphia Soul, who lost to the Rattlers in those two championship games.
"We’re getting to teach our brand of football," said Arizona coach Kevin Guy, who will lead the West. "For me I wanted to take the opportunity because I love this game, I played it, now I’m getting to coach it. It’s a game I think the more people learn about it they’re going to start following it.
"I feel like we put a great product on the field and I think it’s a game that can pick up worldwide."
Before taking the game international next week, AFL China will bring indoor football back to Blaisdell Arena some nine years after the Hawaiian Islanders played their final arenafootball2 season.
A matchup of the coaches of the past two ArenaBowl finalists in Guy and Philadelphia’s Clint Dolezel will also feature two of the leagues most productive passers.
Philadelphia quarterback Dan Raudabaugh threw for 4,699 yards and 96 touchdowns in 18 regular-season games, while Arizona’s Nick Davila finished with 4,847 yards and 110 scores.
The West’s receiver corps includes 6-foot-5 Louisville product Mario Urrutia, who was fifth in the AFL with 1,675 yards and 38 touchdowns for the Utah Blaze. Former Auburn receiver Prechae Rodriguez set a franchise record with 41 touchdowns for the Orlando Predators and is on the East roster.
The East defense includes two first-team All-Arena picks in Philadelphia lineman Bryan Robinson and Jacksonville defensive back Terrance Smith.
For most of the players with local ties, today’s game will be their first exposure to arena football. Josh Rice has kept busy playing rugby since completing his career as a University of Hawaii linebacker in 2009. He’s played in Australia and New Zealand and had a connection with AFL Global president David Niu, who asked if he’d be interested in playing in the exhibitions.
"It feels good to be back home and playing in front of my family again," Rice said. "I feel a little bit rusty, but it should be good.
"When I went from football to rugby you take all the pads off and you feel so free running around. I have to get used to having the pads on again."
Chun, who kicked a game-winning field goal at Idaho for the Warriors in 2011, stayed active in football by playing in the Hawaii Gridiron League and coaching at Saint Louis.
"I was doing the semi-pro just to get out there and still kick and just for fun," Chun said. "This opportunity came up, so I did the tryout and everything fell into place."
With the shorter field and tighter goalposts putting a premium on accuracy, Chun said the arena game "falls right in line with what I do."
"So hopefully I can make the most of it and see what turns out," he said.
