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EAFL awards: Vivaldi completes his seasonal masterpiece
The Abu Dhabi Wildcats’ do-it-all star Vivaldi Tulysse was named Emirates American Football League’s inaugural Most Valuable Player at the EAFL awards ceremony in Jebel Ali.
Part-time quarterback, part-time running back and all-round menace, Tulysse was the key man for the Wildcats in the EAFL’s first season, coming fifth in the league in passing statistics as well as being a leading rusher.
Tulysse put in a game-winning performance in the EAFL Desert Bowl, leading the Wildcats past the Dubai Stallions.
The Dubai Barracudas’ Daniel Viranyi collected the league’s Best Offensive Player after he led the league with 19 receptions – 10 more than his nearest rival – as well carrying the ball 455 yards at an average of 76 yards per game.
The league’s Defensive Player of the Year was shared between the Abu Dhabi Wildcats’ Ryan Michalenko and the Al Ain Desert Foxes’ David Hare.
Players from the EAFL and the two junior leagues came together at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Hotel to celebrate the season's achievements which has seen great strides made both on and off the field.
Tulysee wasn’t able to attend the ceremony and collect his MVP award but he was able to send over a heartfelt video message that was played to the room, where he thanked his coaches, the EAFL, Wildcats personnel and the fans for playing their part in his win.
On holiday back in his native America, Tulysse said that he would happily hand back his MVP trophy if it meant winning the EAFL Desert Bowl again next season.
“Definitely yes,” Tulysse told Sport360°. “I’m all about winning a championship as a team and whatever comes after that is just an added bonus.”
Although Tulysse had confidence that he could make a difference at this level, the whole process of winning the EAFL and now the league MVP has come as a surprise to the Florida-native.
“At the start of the season I knew that I was going to be a key factor for my team but I didn’t imagine this kind of success at all,” he added. “This award is different because I never thought that I would be playing American Football in the Middle East and winning a championship and league MVP.
“That is something to remember for rest of my life.”
AWARD WINNERS
League MVP
Vivaldi Tulysse (Abu Dhabi Wildcats)
Offensive Player of the Year
Daniel Viranyi (Dubai Barracudas)
Defensive Player of the Year
Ryan Michalenko (Abu Dhabi Wildcats) and David Hare (Al Ain Desert Foxes)
Special Teams Player of the Year
Chris Erickson (Dubai Stallions)
Coach of the Year
Kyle Jordan
Assistant coach of the year
Jim McGrath
TEAM AWARDS
Team offensive MVP
Dubai Barracudas – Daniel Viranyi
Al Ain Desert Foxes – Michael Bethell
Dubai Stallions – Ali Riza Dikici
Abu Dhabi Wildcats – Vivaldi Tulysse
Team Defensive MVP
Dubai Barracudas – Montasir Adeeb
Al Ain Desert Foxes – David Hare
Dubai Stallions – Ziad Choueiri
Abu Dhabi Wildcats – Ryan Michalenko
Team most Outstanding O-Lineman
Dubai Barracudas – Peter Davos
Al Ain Desert Foxes – Sandro Monte Carlos
Dubai Stallions – Kaan Savul
Abu Dhabi Wildcats – Atef Al Braiki
Team most outstanding D-Lineman
Dubai Barracudas – Jay McPhail
Al Ain Desert Foxes – Thomas Givens
Dubai Stallions - Scott Sample
Abu Dhabi Wildcats – Firas Awad
Special Teams Player of the Year
Dubai Barracudas – Daniel Viranyi
Al Ain Desert Foxes –Dee Johnson
Dubai Stallions – Chris Erickson
Abu Dhabi Wildcats – Motjaba Elzubeir
Team MVPs
Dubai Barracudas – Daniel Viranyi
Al Ain Desert Foxes – Michael Bethall
Dubai Stallions – Chris Wentzel
Abu Dhabi Wildcats – Motjaba Elzubeir
Team Most Improved Player
Dubai Barracudas – Montasir Adeeb
Al Ain Desert Foxes – Suliman Gouda
Dubai Stallions – Joey Ramos
Abu Dhabi Wildcats – Oussama Mohammad
Team Leadership Award
Dubai Barracudas – Tibor Pal
Al Ain Desert Foxes – Adam Godwin
Dubai Stallions – Ziad Choueiri "
Abu Dhabi Wildcats – Cory Peisel
Team Unsung Hero
Dubai Barracudas – Michael Anderson
Al Ain Desert Foxes – Rene Barton
Dubai Stallions – Caskey Hunt
Abu Dhabi Wildcats – KC Paulson
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