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Ferdinand to captain US NFL team

Comment: 0 October 21st, 2011 by: admin

Manchester United centre back Rio Ferdinand will be appearing at Wembley as the captain of the American football team Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Mere hours after the close of the much-anticipated faceoff between the Red Devils and archrivals Manchester City, Ferdinand will be flown by helicopter to the venue of the NFL match.  He is expected to arrive in time for the coin toss of the faceoff between the Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears.

The arrangements were made by United owner Malcolm Glazer, who also is known to hold a majority stake in the Florida NFL team.

Although Ferdinand will be declared the Buccaneer’s honorary captain, reports say that the United player will remain in the stands with the crowd as soon by the time the game starts.

Reports state that the plan is for Ferdinand to take off for Wembley immediately after the final whistle of the Manchester Derby.

The centre back’s excitement was evident in a recent message on his Twitter account.

‘After the derby (going for the win) on Sunday, I’m going to Wembley to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Chicago Bears… love me some NFL’, read the tweet.

Ferdinand is also known as a fan of American basketball, and of the NBA.  Early this year he was reported to be looking forward to the visit of professional American basketball players to Manchester in the buildup to the 2012 London Olympics.

Players from both the NBA and WNBA will be appearing at the MEN arena to take on their British counterparts, an event that Ferdinand said he was eagerly anticipating.

‘I am a huge basketball fan so it is great that the NBA is bringing the Brest of British and American talent to Manchester over the next few years, starting with the Atlanta dram against Team GB women,’ he told reporters.

‘In the USA, these athletes are absolute superstars and at the top of their game, and I’m sure that the game will be a great spectacle and good preparation for Team GB ahead of next year’s Olympic Games.’

The United’s flight to Wembley and his NFL appearance will follow what is expected to be an intense showdown between the two neighbouring Manchester squads, with United attempting to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League.

Manchester City toppled the Red Devils out of first place last week with their 4-1 win against Villarreal.  United, however, trail City by a mere two points.

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