New venue in the cards for CFL

With the opening kickoff less than three months away, organizers of the Commonwealth Football League are busy planning for the return of the gridiron gladiators, but this time around the players might be getting used to new digs.

According to CFL board chairman Clyde Lemons, the league may be moving its home games from the spacious surroundings of the CPA Airport Football Field to the center of the state-of-the-art track and field facility at the Oleai Sports Complex.

“It’s regulation size, and it looks like we are going to get the clearance to use the Oleai field. It was something that a lot of the players wanted, and I am in agreement with them. The CPA Airport Field was a great field, but this is a more central location that could give the league more exposure and bring more people to the games,” said Lemons.

The chairman added that all of the team representatives and league officials are excited about the move, but the Oleai facility may not be the only venue for the CFL this season.

Lemons said that the two games will be played on the neighboring island of Tinian for a return of primetime action under the lights, but that there is a slight problem with the arrangement.

“Everyone knows that the field over there isn’t 100 yards, but everyone wants to play there, so we’ll draw lots to make [the scheduling selection process] fair and equitable,” said Lemons.

Unless something changes between now and Labor Day, organizers are planning for an Opening Day of Saturday, Sept. 10, but the schedule is yet to be created because it is still unclear which teams will suit up in 2005.

Lemons reported that he is expecting four to five teams for the upcoming season, and if that is the case that the league would return to the double-header format with games at 10am and 1pm.

One of the reasons for the CFL’s opting for two games across the channel is the added feature of a team from Tinian coached by Andre Winston. Last season, Winston led the Verizon Nitro to their first ever win that sent them into the championship against the Shell Chiefs. Despite the loss, the team gained a lot from his leadership and followed the example of big linebacker Keith Nabors.

Winston marks the third big name coach to vie for the 2005 CFL title, as Pete Le’au is returning to head the Chiefs with Danny Punimata, and coach Mike Grandinatti has signed up with the Shell Lightning for their inaugural season.

With Lemons moving to the league office, the Miller Barbarians will see new faces on the sidelines, and possibly a new moniker. While their team name is still undecided, John Tagabuel and Chon Won will be in charge of upholding the tradition of the black and gold.

The future of the white and red is another thing altogether as the Verizon Nitro have yet to send a representative to the organizational meetings, but that could change as soon as next week.

Whether or not the titans of telecommunication return for this season, the volunteers from Guma Esperanza will be gracing the sidelines once again to raise funds for victims of domestic violence.

“They are interested in selling refreshments again, and we are interested in them returning. We have an obligation to give something back to the community,” said Lemons.

Organizers will return to the planning stages in two weeks for the next meeting of the CFL board members on Wednesday, July 6, at the VFW Post on Beach Road at 6pm.