NOVEMBER 2005

PLAY BALL! continued from 43
there were 35 guys trying out for four
spots. It’s definitely, definitely growing
in popularity.”
The league was started in 1979 by
Jonna’s father, Frank. The CFL game
is flag football, which differs slightly
from American professional football
as there is no padding and no tackling.
But other than that, the CFL
resembles the National Football
League by holding player drafts, conducting
playoffs and awarding the
Chi Cup traveling trophy to the winning
team.
Like the CBA, the level of play in
the CFL has risen gradually over the
years.
“The quality of play is outstanding,”
Joe Jonna said. “The coaches
are all pretty knowledgeable now.
They’ve been playing the game long
enough that they know what to do,
run defenses, multiple formations on
offense. It’s good football.”
At the end of each season, a
group of CFL all-stars called Team
Camel competes beyond the local
league in state tournaments, and has
qualified for national championships
the past two years, Jonna said.
Like an increasing number of
Chaldeans, Jonna thrived as a
scholastic football player when he
attended Catholic Central High
School. He chooses to continue
playing the sport “to get out, play a
little bit and hang out with the guys.”
“We’re intense on the field and
friends off the field,” he said. “To me,
that’s the best way to go.”
Many of the CFL and CBA players
compete in more than one sport,
so they are emerging as well-trained
athletes, Kyriakoza said.
“It’s pretty impressive — a lot of
them did not play a lot of American
sports until they got here,” he said.
“Most of the countries in the Middle
East only play soccer. I did not touch
a basketball until I was about 16 or
17. We only played soccer or whatever
sports were available, ping-pong
or something like that. Once we got
here we started playing softball or
baseball, depending on what age you
were or what schools you went to.
“The fact that we even have a
uniformed, organized league is
encouraging.”
Yasmeen
Sarafa
practices
techinque
Chaldean youngsters get active too
BY WRIGHT WILSON
Not all of the recreational activities are geared toward Chaldean
adults — children have a chance to learn and develop their athletic
skills as well.
A youth soccer program geared toward 3- to 6-year-olds is one
of the newest offerings at the Shenandoah Country Club.
“We’re treating it as kind of a soccer camp for youth,” said
organizer Mike Sarafa. “We started by concentrating on practice
and skills training. Then we’ll put them outside and break them
up in to formal teams. We’re trying to teach sportsmanship and
skills and teamwork.”
After two weeks of indoor skills training in practice in
Shenandoah’s new gymnasium, the youngsters moved outside last
month to play on soccer fields constructed upon Shenandoah’s
driving range. Once the kids are skilled, games will be organized
for children in two divisions, ages 4-5 and 6-8, Sarafa said.
This is the first year of Shenandoah’s youth soccer program,
which was publicized on flyers and through word of mouth.
“It’s only going to grow; it’s happening a little bit already,” Sarafa
said. “In the very near future there will be competition for gym time at
Shenandoah, and that’s a problem we’re looking forward to.”
Future plans include offering a youth basketball league during
the winter months.
Sarafa, who has children ages 6, 4 and 3, is extremely excited
that youth sports offerings are growing.
“We live in Novi, where there are city leagues and everything,
but I wanted them to play in the Shenandoah leagues too,” he said.
“They can continue the relationships, the heritage, their identity
within the ethnic community.”
NOVEMBER 2005 CHALDEAN NEWS 45