Sep 10, 2016 by Iain Colpitts Mississauga News
MIFA Allstars Canada Team players #40 Liston Bates and #68 Michel Belbin chase a Team America player for the ball during an International Bowl Football game held at Bronte Athletic Park in Oakville Saturday evening. September 3, 2016 – Jayson Mills Photo
Aside from the final score, it was the kind of outcome Liston Bates was looking for from an international football game between the Mississauga Indoor Football Association (MIFA) All-Stars and a visiting split squad of American and Mexican talent.
On Sept. 3, MIFA hosted the international squad in the second leg of an international bowl series that began against Mexico’s LEXFA All-Stars in Cancun back in May.
The recent encounter ended in a 26-7 victory for the visitors at Bronte Athletic Park in Oakville, ending the series at one game apiece.
Bates, program coordinator for MIFA and defensive coordinator for the All-Star team, said the Canadians were great hosts, and that’s what was most important.
“It was just a great vibe,” Bates said. “The players said they’ve never been treated this well and that’s exactly what I wanted them to say.”
MIFA hosted a three-day festival that began with a press conference/welcoming reception at Ten Wine Bar in Port Credit the day before the game and a barbecue at Erindale Park the day after.
The guests were also treated to great hospitality at Novotel Toronto Mississauga Centre, he said.
Bates estimates that the Bronte field was two thirds full with 400 fans in the bleachers.
This is the first year of the international series and Bates is planning on adding more elements to next year’s Canadian match with a marching band performance and MIFA mini game demonstration.
Most importantly, a women’s game is booked in for next year, with both MIFA and LEXFA still ironing out the details.
The MIFA women’s program was launched recently and, through the fall, the women can be seen practicing Sunday morning’s at Erindale Secondary School along with the MIFA youth flag program.
“A lot of (the women) have children who play within the program or play period,” Bates said.
“The kids play an hour before the women, so it’s good to have both of them in the same place at the same time.”
The MIFA women’s program is trying to raise funds and secure sponsors for next year’s international series and they’re holding their first of many fundraisers Friday night (Sept. 16) at Ten Wine Bar.
For more information, visit www.mifafootball.com or MIFA Football on Facebook.