Near East University, ranked among the top 500 universities in the world, has demonstrated its readiness for championship with its strong American football team, the Near East Brothers, trained by the experienced American coach Chris Criswell, reaching the finals of the Northern Cyprus American Football League.

Near East University, which stands out for its achievements in sports as well as academics, continues to make a name for itself with its performance in American football. Chris Criswell, who coached American football in the United States for many years, quickly instilled a disciplined, competitive, and strategic playing style in the Near East Brothers.

The Near East Brothers, who stood out with their outstanding performance throughout the season, finished the group stages as leaders, gaining a significant advantage on their way to the finals. In a special match played in memory of the “Champion Angels”, the team faced the Eastern Mediterranean Crows, and in the semi-finals, they showed a superior performance against the Kyrenia American Eagles, defeating their opponent 30-12 and securing their place in the final. The final match between Near East Brothers and Eastern Mediterranean Crows will be played on Thursday, May 21st at 7:30 PM at the İrsen Küçük Ortaköy Stadium.

A Career Leading to National Championships in the USA

Chris Criswell, who has many years of experience in American football, coached at various levels in the USA after obtaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He coached flag football for seven years and middle school American football for two years, and served as the head coach of the TCW Warriors for six years.

Criswell, who took over the Warriors in 2016, quickly led them to success, achieving participation in four national championship tournaments by 2022. Thanks to the system he created, the Warriors won two national championships.

Today, Criswell continues his career in Northern Cyprus, serving as the head coach of both the Near East Brothers American Football Team and the Near East Angels Flag Football Team. He is also among the founding members and supporting advisors of the TRNC American Football League.

All eyes are now on the final!

The Near East Brothers are considered one of the strongest contenders for the championship before the final, thanks to their team cohesion, tough defense, and effective offensive organization. Aiming to finish the season with the cup, the team is one step away from achieving this historic success.

Chris Criswell stated that he is proud of the effort they put in throughout the season, saying, “My players have worked with great dedication since the beginning of the season. We created a team spirit on the field where everyone believed in each other and never gave up the fight. Especially making the right decisions at critical moments carried us to the final.”

Expressing that they are preparing for the final match with the same discipline, Criswell said, “This success was won not only with scores but also with team character. Now our goal is to finish the season with the championship cup.” Highlighting the importance of the strong support Near East University provides to sports, Criswell added, “The sporting culture and perspective on sports created here motivates us.”