Flag football team continues winning tradition
Wisdom and talent proved to be an unbeatable combination for the Ely-M Jewelry-sponsored team in the Pompano Beach Adult Flag Football League.
Winners in 10 of 11 games at Mitchell Moore Field, Ely-M Jewelry put the exclamation point to their efforts with a dominant 43-7 victory over Strictly Business in the recent championship game.
The veteran squad relied on the leadership of quarterback Evan Marbin and halfback Sergio Rok, who have been teammates since youth football. The team made it a summer sweep of titles by also finishing atop the Hollywood Adult Flag Football League with a 10-0 record.
Marbin (age 60) and Rok (52) are not your average over-the-hill players. Marbin was inducted into the Florida Flag Football Hall of Fame last year, joining Rok (a 2012 inductee). The team has won numerous state and national titles.
Hollywood resident Vincent Robins was a standout during the game on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. His speed and sure hands led to two highlight touchdowns.
“I love playing in this Pompano league, which is very competitive with a lot of athletes,” Robins said. “The key to us winning is our unity. You can have all the athletes in the world, but if you don’t jell, you aren’t going to win. I love playing with Evan and Sergio, who always give us motivation and energy.”
E.C. Halperstein and Ben Smith provided defensive pressure on Strictly Business quarterback Corey Hines the entire game. Strong secondary support was provided by J.C. Rodriguez, Mike Thomas, Willis Wright and Shaquille Green.
“We have a great system … and have played a lot of years together and are practically unbeatable,” Rok said. “We play for fun and enjoy the high level of competition.”
Prominent soccer coach joins the Hammerheads
The Pompano Beach Football Club continues to make great strides in its development of local youth soccer players, and the program recently took a major step forward.
The organization, nicknamed The Hammerheads, recently announced that Lenny Taylor has come on board as vice president and director of Coaching.
Taylor is a well-known name in soccer circles with more than 30 years of coaching experience in the United States and the Caribbean. He has enjoyed success at the youth, college, senior and international levels. Taylor runs the North Broward Soccer Academy, which will now merge its efforts with the Hammerheads’ program that consists of about 100 players ages 5-18.
“You can’t go much higher than having Lenny on board, and we’re very fortunate to have him,” said Hammerheads president James Elder. “I don’t think the children realize what kind of opportunity they have with Lenny. He has coached two national teams and has made many professional players.”
Taylor was the founder of the Lauderhill Lions in the early 1980s and wants to create a similar program with PBFC.
“Our objective is to
establish travel program in the under-9 through under-18 age levels, and we are currently putting together teams,” Taylor said. “We’re going to provide a real competitive opportunity for the residents of this area. This program is ready for the next challenge.”
The Hammerheads will be part of the South Florida United Travel Soccer League and will enter tour- naments for development purposes. They will also compete in the Florida Youth Soccer Association State Cup tournament. Practices are held three times a week at Pompano Community Park, and two tryout sessions will be conducted before registration is required.
For more information, Pbfc-hammerheads.com.
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