Jamaica’s female Flag Football team is set to make its international debut as participants of the 30th staging of the Kelly McGillis Classic in Key West, Florida, from January 24–31.

In an interview with Sports Nation Live, Director of the Jamaica American Football Association (JAFA), Kevaun Hinds, says this will be a history-making feat for Jamaica flag football.

“This is the first homegrown Jamaican team that’s going overseas to make the overseas” Mr Hinds said.

He also stressed that team is 100 per cent locally grown and trained with no imported talent.

“Get this right, homegrown, we didn’t pick these girls from any state in the US, these are homegrown girls,” he emphasised.

Mr Hinds is also full of confidence for the girls’ performance ahead of the tournament.

“We have been training for over a year and we are not going there to compete but to dominate,” he added.

He noted said that it’s not the first international invite they’ve received but were able to make this trip due to sponsors coming on board.

Director of the women’s programme, Dr Stacey Griffiths, asserted that it’s part of the international body’s push to grow the sport internationally, outside the US.

Flag football is a cross between rugby and American Football. Players attempt to score points by running with a football in hand to the opposite side of the field, while avoiding getting the ‘flags’ that’s attached to their sides pulled off by the opposing player.