Author: MIFA

Mar 28, 2016 by Iain Colpitts  Mississauga News

An international football series has been scheduled this year with home and away games between Mississauga’s MIFA Football Canada and Mexico’s LEXFA. – Supplied photo

An international exhibition series is planned this year between a group of football players from Mississauga and a group from Mexico.

MIFA Football Canada and Mexico’s LEXFA have set dates for a back and forth slate of games, with the first match scheduled for May 6 at Troyanos Cancun University, followed by a game in Mississauga on Labour Day weekend.

The Mexican club originally had a similar series scheduled against the United States, but when that fell through, MIFA program coordinator Liston Bates offered the Mississauga group as a substitute.

“I said to them ‘What if I can keep this game going and we’ll also do a tour where we play down there.’” Bates said.

“We talked about doing it next year, but I said there’s no time like the current.”

Most of the players representing MIFA also play semi-pro with the Oakville Longhorns of the Northern Football Conference.

One of the players heading to Mexico is MIFA ambassador Hector Santibanez, who has travelled back and forth between Canada and Mexico, playing football in both countries. He’s been instrumental in the planning of the series as well.

“He’s the guy in on every conference call because he speaks Spanish and we don’t,” Bates laughed. “I can’t communicate without him.”

Bates said LEXFA has done an excellent job promoting football in Mexico and it has gotten to the point where the country has started up a professional league, Liga Futbol Americano.

“It’s not just popular, it’s blowing the roof off,” Bates said. “They just started a pro league a few weeks ago and are recruiting for it, which is why this tour is ideal for any player coming.”

Organizers hope this year’s games are just the start of a long-lasting series. Bates hopes to eventually grow the series to a level where the junior varsity and youth teams from both MIFA and LEXFA face off as well.

To help offset the costs of the trip to Mexico (roughly $1,700 per individual), MIFA has held a few fundraising events already and has a few more scheduled, the next of which will be a gathering at Ten Restaurant and Wine Bar in Port Credit Friday night. For more information, visit mifafootball.com.

Mar 01, 2016 by Iain Colpitts  Mississauga News

Lyric Squad won its third straight Mississauga Indoor Football Association adult league title last month.

The Mississauga Indoor Football Association’s Friday Night Lights adult league concluded last month with Lyric Squad defeating the Hamilton Steel City Patriots 31-6 in the championship game at the Hershey Centre.

Both teams are made up mostly of players who play in the Northern Football Conference semi-pro league through the summer.

The Patriots have a team in that league while Lyric Squad plays under the Oakville Longhorns banner over the summer.

Lyric Squad captured its third straight MIFA title after going 9-1 through the regular season. Their only loss came against the Patriots, and ironically, the Longhorns were the last team to beat the Patriots in NFC play.

Lyric Squad’s Ezekiel Bartlett-Springer was named Friday Night Lights league MVP and teammates Winston Blake (league defensive MVP), Kevin Nguyen (championship game offensive MVP) and Brendan Assante (championship game defensive MVP) also picked up awards.

Sep 18, 2015 by The Mississauga News Mississauga News

Sunday mornings this fall, the Mississauga Indoor Football Association will be running a youth co-ed flag football program for children ages seven to 17 at Erindale Secondary School.

The eight-week program costs $135 plus tax. Players are asked to bring athletic apparel in addition to cleats. The program will also allow children to register for the M.I.F.A indoor youth tackle program beginning in December.

On the opening day of the fall program last Sunday, Archelaus Jack, star receiver for the Oakville Longhorns of the Northern Football Conference, taught players how to run routes.

Participants can register online through mifafootball.com or in person Sunday mornings.

Those registering in person are asked to arrive at Erindale Secondary no later than 10 a.m.

Jun 11, 2015 by Iain Colpitts  Mississauga News

The Oakville Longhorns, comprising of roughly 80 per cent Mississauga players, will host the Hamilton Steel City Patriots in their Northern Football Conference home opener Saturday at Bronte Field. – Supplied photo

OAKVILLE – The Oakville Longhorns, a semi-pro football team of mostly of Mississauga players, will host the Hamilton Steel City Patriots in their Northern Football Conference home opener Saturday night at Bronte Field.

A tailgate party will start at 5 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Team owner Liston Bates of Mississauga is the team’s defensive co-ordinator/linebacker and has coached roughly 75 per cent of his teammates at one point or another through his career.

He says around 80 per cent of the team is from Mississauga.

“Whether I was the defensive coach or not, (the players) call me coach anyway because I’ve coached most of them at some point,” said Bates, whose organization, the Mississauga Indoor Football Association, purchased the Longhorns two and a half years ago.

“My running back that I won a championship with three years ago as a 14-year-old kid is now my running back on (the Longhorns),” said Bates, an avid football supporter who has coached in MIFA, the Mississauga Football League and several other associations. “It can’t get any better than that.”

Most of the Longhorns are in their mid-20’s or older. The Longhorns are currently 0-2. Oakville has won a record 11 straight NFC championships, as well as three national titles between 1993 and 2003.

For more information, visit nfclonghorns.com.

Dec 29, 2012 by Jason Spencer Mississauga News

Mississauga Indoor Football Association coordinator Liston Bates suited up for the fifth annual Holiday Food Drive exhibiton game last night at the Hershey Centre Sports Dome. – Staff photo by Jason Spencer

Players from the adult division of the Mississauga Indoor Football Association (MIFA) suited up to score a touchdown against hunger last night at the Hershey Centre Sports Dome.
The Holiday Food Drive, which was hosted by the MIFA’s Friday Night Lights division, entertained spectators with a full-tackle game, while collecting non-perishable food donations for St. Martin of Tours Church in Erin Mills.
MIFA league coordinator Liston Bates said that the fifth annual fundraiser also aimed to school people of all ages in the stands.
“This is a community event” said Bates. “We invited a lot of players and parents from our youth program to come out and see their coaches play the game that they’re teaching them.”
Bates, who played outside linebacker in the game, pointed out that MIFA has participants ranging from a 5-year-old girl in the flag football league to a grandfather. He added that football is an aggressive sport that can be played by anyone, so as long as it’s with respect.
“It just ties the youth in with the adult, which is our ideal job,” he said.
jspencer@mississauga.net

Nov 22, 2009 by Amit Gossai Mississauga News

Richard Deschamps of the South West Football Association Raiders tries to recover a fumble as the South East Football Association Bear Hayden Phillips gets blocked by Malcolm Stokx during the Mississauga Football League finals held at the Mississauga Valley football fields yesterday afternoon. – Photo by Claudio Cugliari

The South West Football Association captured two Mississauga Football League championships on Saturday at the Mississauga Valley football fields.

In the bantam division, the SWFA Raiders capped off its undefeated season with a 31-12 romp over the Bears of the South East Football Association.

“It was one of those games that we (Raiders) weren’t going to get denied,” said Raiders head coach Dan Deschamps. “This was probably the best team I’ve coached in years because there were absolutely no egos on this team.”

After a Bears touchdown that cut the lead to 12 in the fourth quarter, the Raiders came right back with a touchdown of their own.

Raiders Quarterback Bobby Shields threw a strike right to Patrick Lafleur who ran 62 yards for his second touchdown of the day.

“We got up quick and we just kept at it,” said Shields. “At the end, we had the heart and determination to win the game and the victory just adds to an amazing season.”

Raider Richard Deschamps had one interception, which he ran back for a touchdown, while Shields rushed for a major of his own.

The Bears, who went into the finals with a 3-6 regular season record, were the underdogs.

Bears head coach Liston Bates said no one expected them to be in the finals.

“We came in knowing we were the underdogs,” said Bates. “We wanted to steal a win from them (Raiders) and we almost did it.”

Bear Kellen Cummings caught a seven-yard touchdown reception while quarterback Colton Rich rushed for another in the losing cause.

The SWFA Raiders also won the atom division championship, defeating the SEFA Kodiaks 56-30.

SEFA however did not go home empty handed as its tyke and peewee teams won their respective divisions.

In peewee, the SEFA Grizzlies defeated the Central Mississauga Football Association Cougars 20-12.

“The Cougars came ready to play and were actually leading at the half,” said Grizzlies head coach Jay Bodnar. “After we changed up our game plan between passing and running the ball, we were able to split the Cougars defence right up the middle.”

Malik Thompson, D.J. Lester and Duane Rehberg each scored touchdowns for the Grizzlies while Cougars’ Rasheed Gillis rushed for two touchdowns in the losing cause.

In atom, the SEFA Bruins beat the Streetsville Meadowvale Football Club Mavericks 54-34.

“We were outnumbered in the game,” said Bruins head coach Scott Harris. “But these kids had a lot of heart and eventually we just overcame them (Mavericks).”

mississauganews@live.com

Nov 19, 2009 by Chris Clay Mississauga News

All four teams from the South East Football Association have advanced to the Mississauga Football League finals, being held on Saturday at the Mississauga Valley football fields. – Photo by John E. Sokolowski

Mission accomplished.

Liston Bates wanted to promote indoor football in a fun, non-competitive way and he did just that through the Mississauga Indoor Football Association.

The league completed their final week of youth games today at Rink City and Bates, the league’s coordinator, was thrilled to see participation almost triple in size from 50 children in the inaugural season last year to 140 this campaign.

“It’s more successful than I could ever imagine,” he said. “I’ve never seen so many happy kids playing football indoors. The program itself is great. If we can have a bigger location, I imagine we’ll double (participation) next year.”

In the the sixth and final week of games, the junior gold team defeated junior blue 38-13, junior white defeated junior silver 27-12, peewee purple edged peewee white 34-32, peewee black defeated peewee red by the same count and senior black won 32-6 over senior red.

As Bates mentioned, the league’s mandate is to get kids active and to have fun. He said he’s received a lot of positive feedback from parents this year.

“The parents appreciate it a lot more because they’re up front and personal with their kids,” he said. “They get to see their development first hand.”

For more information, visit www.leaguelineup.com/mifa.

icolpitts@mississauga.net

Feb 26, 2011 by Iain Colpitts Mississauga News

Mackenzie Dodd pushes through to the end zone Saturday morning at the Rink City Sportplex during the peewee finals between the white and purple teams of the Mississauga Indoor Football Association. – Photo by Steven Der-Garabedian

Mission accomplished.

Liston Bates wanted to promote indoor football in a fun, non-competitive way and he did just that through the Mississauga Indoor Football Association.

The league completed their final week of youth games today at Rink City and Bates, the league’s coordinator, was thrilled to see participation almost triple in size from 50 children in the inaugural season last year to 140 this campaign.

“It’s more successful than I could ever imagine,” he said. “I’ve never seen so many happy kids playing football indoors. The program itself is great. If we can have a bigger location, I imagine we’ll double (participation) next year.”

In the the sixth and final week of games, the junior gold team defeated junior blue 38-13, junior white defeated junior silver 27-12, peewee purple edged peewee white 34-32, peewee black defeated peewee red by the same count and senior black won 32-6 over senior red.

As Bates mentioned, the league’s mandate is to get kids active and to have fun. He said he’s received a lot of positive feedback from parents this year.

“The parents appreciate it a lot more because they’re up front and personal with their kids,” he said. “They get to see their development first hand.”

For more information, visit www.leaguelineup.com/mifa.

icolpitts@mississauga.net

Mississauga News, Feb 1, 2011 Iain Colpitts

The Mississauga Indoor Football Association has crowned a champion for the adults while the youth titles remain up for grabs.

Last week, Lyric Squad defeated the Rams 64-25 to win the Friday Night Lights Bowl at Rink City.

Lyric Squad captured the regular season crown before they blanked the X-Men 24-0 in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the Rams finished third in the regular season and defeated the second-place Gobblins 25-19 to advance to the championship game.

Meanwhile, the three youth leagues are four weeks into the current campaign. The peewee white and junior gold teams are both 4-0 and sit atop their respective divisions.

In Saturday’s (Jan. 29) action, the peewee whites defeated the winless red team 41-19.

The peewee black team blanked the purple squad 34-0 on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, the junior golds crushed the winless silver team 56-2 while the blue squad hammered the white team 64-6.

In the senior division, the red squad (2-1-1) squeaked out a 28-24 win over the black team.

icolpitts@mississauga.net