The CEFL will have a new lineup in 2013: the Kragujevac Wild Boars will participate in the league for the first time since 2007.
The Wild Boars are one of the five original CEFL teams, back when the league was still called SELAF. They even won the inaugural season in 2006, but after a poor second season the Wild Boars and the league went separate ways. Although it wasn’t the best of times for the team, they bounced back in a big way the following year, winning the Serbian championship in 2008 over their long time rival, the Vukovi. They also took part in the EFAF Cup championship game in 2011.
“The CEFL is proudly welcoming back the Kragujevac Wild Boars, the CEFL Bowl winners of 2006. Within the past couple of years the Wild Boars have developed an impressive football program. Kragujevac will be substantially enriching the upcoming contest for the CEFL Bowl VIII, in a – according to my opinion – very balanced tournament, which should bring us quite a number of tough and highly exciting football games”, says Gabriel Dielacher of the CEFL.
Not in 2007 anymore, the league looks much different now in comparison to back then. The Ljubljana Silverhawks are the reigning champions, which was difficult to imagine back then, and the level of play is overall substantially higher. Which should not be a problem for the Wild Boars, since they have in recent years cemented their status of one of the best teams in the region.
“After a year of not playing games outside of Serbia, we realized that we miss stronger games and opponents. … What I’m happy with is that the home crowd will – next to the well know Vukovi – be able to enjoy in games against teams such as Zagreb, Ljubljana or Budapest. Of course, playing in two leagues demands much more effort and work, both for the management and the players. Still, I’m confident that we can overcome all obstacles and show our worth”, says team president Nemanja Čalija.
They will replace the Cineplexx Blue Devils of Austria, whose stay in the league was for the second time only one year, but this time much less successful. The league will therefore once again consist out of five teams. The 2013 schedule will be out in the upcoming weeks.