For the first time in Bulgaria, a game of American football was played on October 19 in Razlog in Rila Mountain.
It was a friendly affair, with Team Sofia facing the Turkish Istanbul Cavaliers. What ensued was a tough battle on the field with the more experienced Turks asserting gradual domination, beating the Bulgarian side 28-0.

This was the second game against the lads from Turkey, the first derby being last year, only six months after the creation of Team Sofia.
According to Hristo Gourkovski, the manager and coach of the Bulgarians, there is an established league with history and traditions, spanning almost a decade in Turkey, while American football has only just put down roots in Bulgaria.

When in May 2007, he first started promoting the sport in Bulgaria, more than 130 players were registered and participated, but a year and half later their number has shrunk to 30.
The rigorous training programme sifts out many of the unfit players, and the only registered team in Bulgaria currently is Team Sofia.
Usually Team Sofia starts with milder training sessions without protective kit. A lot of time was required for the players to grasp the correct attacking and blocking tactics of the game. This is a dangerous sport and everything is done with regard to player safety as well.

Team Sofia are hoping that enough momentum would be gathered for the establishment of a national side. The best prospect for the future of the players here is if they are called to play in other European countries where they can obtain further experience.
Gourkovski said that in France, every municipality had a synthetic field designated for American football and other unorthodox sports.
There is a possibility that five or six Bulgarian players might head to France where they will play in the local league.

According to Gourkovski, in countries like France, Austria and Germany, American football has established deep roots and traditions and the overall quality of the sport is very high.
Thankfully, municipalities like Razlog are keen on experimenting and supporting the development of the sport and there is a vital opportunity to promote American football there. The mayor of the town, Lyuben Tatarski had invited Team Sofia to Razlog, and they were facilitated and assisted in every way possible so that the match against Istanbul Cavaliers could go ahead.

"Our Turkish friends were surprised and delighted by the region and by the existing sports conditions here" said Gourkovski.
Gourkovski and his boys will play their friends from Turkey again in the next couple of months. It is expected that the match will be in the skiing and snowboarding area of Pirin mountain.