HIALEAH, FL (ABF) – ABF Academy Hialeah has accepted an invitation to join the Florida Independent Football Conference, announced ABF Athletic Director Dillon Riera.
“Finding a conference that provided our football program with opportunities to take the field against like minded institutions and compete within a postseason playoff system was of the utmost importance entering our second year,” said AD Riera. “Luckily for us, the Florida Independent Football Conference was in search of new members, and after some brief conversation, we came to the conclusion that ABF Football would be a perfect fit for their organization.”
Founded by Palmer Trinity School in 2014, the Florida Independent Conference was created in an effort to stimulate interest in a well-rounded small school athletic football program, promote sportsmanship, and foster a shared understanding among member schools in establishing a post-season playoff system to boost enthusiasm among small football programs. “The conference works to highlight our small schools and honor the hard-working players and coaches that drive their programs. At our peak, the conference boasted 15 schools, we hosted large Conference Championships and Bowl Games, we added countless conference awards and honors, and the media quickly gained respect for our initiatives,” proclaimed FIFC Commissioner Ernest Robertson. “I hope the conference continues to exist and grow.”
ABF Academy will join the conference effective immediately and participate in the upcoming 2024 football season. Membership in the FIFC will provide ABF with a full-slate of conference games throughout the regular season, featuring matchups against Palmer Trinity School, Archbishop Coleman Carroll, Florida Christian School, Palm Glades, and SmartEn Academy, and the ability to partake in the FIFC Playoffs, Bowl and Championship series. Under the FIFC banner, ABF student-athletes will be eligible for Conference Awards (MVP, POTY, Scholar-Athlete, etc.) and All-Conference Team nominations, as well.
“Joining the FIFC is but the next step in realizing our initial vision to establish ABF Football as a widely recognized and relevant program in South Florida and beyond,” stated AD Riera. “However, this endeavor, whilst a welcomed boost in notoriety for the school and the football program, is primarily focused on providing our student-athletes with the proper arena in which to showcase their talents and strive towards a tangible, penultimate goal: a championship.”
