According to the rules by the arenafootball2 league, a team may only have 22 players on the roster, but if a team signs an international player, it receives an extra roster spot for that upcoming season without taking away from the original 22.

            “I think bringing international players should let the community see that this is global,” said Lexington Horsemen Head Coach, Mike Harmon. “It’s a lot bigger than where we’ve been, and it lets people know that there are guys from all over the world playing arena football.”

Hideaki Wada originally contacted Coach Harmon via email and sent him game film through the mail. After reviewing his film and doing thorough research on their own, Coach Harmon and the other assistant coaches felt he could add versatility and depth to the team as a wide receiver. Wada has been playing American football in Japan in their top league, so his knowledge of the game isn’t foreign.

            Paul Dalzell was scouted by Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach, Garry McPeek along with Volunteer Assistant Tom Posey. Through Posey’s work in the Down Under Bowl, a bowl where teams from around the United States play in Australia, he has made many Australian and New Zealand contacts including Jason Vaka. Vaka is an agent in New Zealand for international players for the Arena Football League, arenafootball2’s parent league. The Horsemen coaches found a spark in Dalzell’s game that could bring a lot of diversity to the offensive and defensive game.

Dalzell brings strong and impressive credentials to the Horsemen. He has played at New Zealand’s highest level with their national team, The Iron Blacks and was awarded the Royal New Zealand Air force Sports Person of the Year in 2005.

According to Coach Harmon, football is an international language that anyone can speak and he said it’s always exciting to see and meet new players. Because each player has a different background, they can bring some new tools that they have learned from their countries to help contribute new strategies to the arena game.

.“Football is Football, they’ve both played it and they just have to come over here and adapt to the arena game,” said Harmon. “And you know it’s always good to interact with other cultures and other players. I just think it will be a win/win for the Horsemen, for Lexington in general, for our fans and all our sponsors.”