The Dubai Barracudas have beaten everyone into submission this season, but the one player they’ve yet to conquer is the man who’ll be their biggest challenge in Desert Bowl IV.
Vivaldi Tulysse, the Emirates American Football League’s (EAFL) most dangerous weapon and Abu Dhabi Wildcats’ star running back, is chomping at the bit to face the unbeaten squad when the two teams square-off at Dubai Sports City this Friday for the title.
Tulysse is more than aware of how dominant the Barracudas’ have been – he just hasn’t seen it first-hand.
Coincidentally, the two games Tulysse missed in the regular season were against the Barracudas and their tenacious defence, which allowed all of 12 points the entire campaign.
“I’m dying to play them,” Tulysse said following the 18-8 victory over the Dubai Stallions in the semi-finals. “For some reason, this season I haven’t had the chance to play them at all. I’m definitely going to play them this game so we’ll see.
“They’re a pretty good team. One thing about them is they’re very disciplined. It’s going to be a tough game, but we’ll come ready to play.”
The dynamic rusher and receiver has been crucial to Abu Dhabi’s success, serving as a barometer with the team going 4-0 in games he’s played and 0-2 (against the Barracudas) when he’s been absent.
In that sense, the Wildcats have just as much claim to being unbeaten when their best player is on the field as their Desert Bowl opponents do, which is why Barracudas coach Kyle Jordan is also eager to face Tulysse and settle any doubts that his team haven’t beaten everyone on their way to a championship.
It will be the third Desert Bowl for the Wildcats in the league’s four-year history, but Tulysse is one of the few remaining players from those 2013 and 2014 squads.
That experience is something he’ll look to impart on the players who’ve yet to play in the finale as he searches for his third ring.
“It helps a lot,” Tulysse said of his Desert Bowl familiarity. “I can relay some of that experience to the team and to the newer guys, so it definitely helps.”