CEFL Cup is starting this weekend with the first game of the Northern group. In a repeat of last season’s Czech finals, current national champions Vysočina Gladiators will host Prague Lions on Easter Sunday at 16:00 CET. Teams will double down on this duel which counts as their national league game too.
The Gladiators are new to international scene so they’ll have much to prove in this one. Meanwhile, the Lions have played on the big stage once before in season 2016 of the now defunct IFAF Europe Champions League. They didn’t fare so well though, suffering losses to Triangle Razorbacks and Wroclaw Panthers, which went on to win the whole thing.
Both the Gladiators and the Lions have recorded wins in the first week of the national league. Czech national championship features 7 domestic teams and 2 from Slovakia so they’ll have a lot on their plates this season. In the CEFL Cup both of them have yet to meet Tychy Falcons, Polish vice champions. The winner of the group will advance to the final game against the best from the Southern group of the CEFL Cup.
The Gladiators will have help from overseas epitomized in their QB, Ryan Pahos. On the other end of the field, leader of the Praguers’ offense is Shazzon Mumphrey. Judging from their season openers, both of them already have great rapport with their receiving corps, posting large number of points. With both attacking units firing on all cylinders, the key to winning this one might lie with the defenses.
Live stream will be available here: https://www.facebook.com/vysocinaglads