For the first time in its history, the Battle of the Prairies football tournament is hosting a team from Mexico.
This year is the fourth annual tournament and features a team hailing from Monterrey, Mexico. It’s the second time Fuego head coach Mauricio Ordonez has brought his team to Canada, but first time to Saskatchewan.
“People in the airport were asking us, ‘You Mexicans are going to Canada now? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” he joked.
Ordonez says American football has exploded in Mexico over the last four decades.
In Monterrey alone, over 10,000 kids play the sport.
“Since we are close to the Texas-Mexico border, football is big,” Ordonez explained. “It feels great being a part of [a growing sport].”
For many of the players on the Fuego, the tournament is their first time in Canada.
They say they’ve been surprised by the weather and how big football is in Saskatchewan.
“I thought it was big in Mexico,” said running back Miguel Muñoz. “Then I saw here and it’s very big.”
Muñoz has only been playing football for three years.
“My brother was the first I player I saw play,” he told CTV News. “But I love it.”
Fuego teammate, Denzel Rivera says he’s been playing football since he was three years old, adding the competition is stiffer at this tournament.
“I like playing against teams this good,” the cornerback said through a translator. “That way I can challenge myself and get better every day.”
Sask Selects football program Executive Director and Battle of the Prairies organizer Zeljko Stefanovic has invited teams from across North America for the tournament.
“There’s 24 teams in five different age divisions,” he said.
In Saskatchewan, the program has 300 players from over 60 communities playing in divisions from U11 to U18.
Other teams attending the tournament are from Boston, Mass., Texas and California.
The Inland Empire Mambas, who are from California, are defending their championship this weekend.
“It’s pretty exciting coming [here],” said quarterback Anthony Barquinero. “It’s fun and [all the teams] have some dogs on them.”
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With so many young football players in one place, Stefanovic says dozens of university, college, and junior football programs are able to use the tournament as a scouting ground.
“There’s 300 recruit-eligible players here,” he said. “They’re going to be watching.”
Players are seizing the opportunity.
“It’s just good to showcase your abilities,” said Mambas receiver and safety Darien Mahoney. “In California, everybody knows you. So it’s a way to get your name out there.”
Ordonez adds tournaments like this one show his players what opportunities may be ahead for them.
“It’s a great tool to get a scholarship,” he said. “That’s the mindset because so few Mexicans have played professionally.”
“As coaches, we try to help them put school first. Because if [they] want to play, [they] need good grades,” Ordonez added.
Despite cooler temperatures than they’re used to, the Fuego hope to return to the tournament next year.
The tournament will run until Sunday at the Yara Centre in Moose Jaw.
