Olympians win through to face Leicester
The London Olympians produced a stout defensive effort to win their BAFA National League Division One quarter-final 14-7 against Ipswich Cardinals on Sunday.
Djamal Salim secured a tight victory over their Southern Conference rivals by taking a fumble recovery 50 yards for the winning touchdown. Wide receiver Kenny Bello gave the South Londoners, who won the Division Two title last season, the lead after hauling in a 50-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bishop Adkins on the team’s first drive of the match.
However, the Cardinals levelled the scores at 7-7 after scoring off a blocked Olympians punt before Salim’s heroics saved the day for the home side.
“It was tough,” said Olympians head coach Riq Ayub. “They sent seven at us no matter what the situation, so it was hard to get momentum on offense.”
“The defense played extremely well and kept us in the game.”
The Olympians now face Leicester Falcons, whose triggerman is former Olympians quarterback Stuart Franklin, at Well Hall Sports Ground in Eltham on Sunday in the semi-finals. Leicester defeated Doncaster Mustangs 57-30 in a shoot-out in their quarter-final.
“Leicester are a big, strong team with a good running back,” Ayub said. “They have a really tough, balanced offense.”
Ayub is hopeful that Sunday’s test against the Cardinals will have put his team in good stead for the rest of what is sure to be a challenging match against the Falcons.
“I think the Ipswich game will have done us a lot of good,” he said. “We went 10-0 in the regular season and had it pretty much our own way, to a degree.
“For the first time this season I think the players thought it may slip away from them, so it may be a blessing in disguise.”
If the Olympians win, they will have a home final, with BritBowl XXV weekend taking place at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on the weekend of the 24th and 25th of September.
“Being at home is not necessarily a motivation for us,” Ayub said. “It will be an added bonus, if we get there, but we just want to get to the final, first and foremost.”
The Olympians are interested in players aged 16 and older, potential coaches and helpers. They practise every Sunday at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, SE19, every Sunday when there is no game and at Bellingham Leisure & Lifestyle Centre, SE6, every Wednesday night.
For more information contact team manager Marlene Price on 07956 520466 or manager@olympiansfootball.org.
