Football opportunities

To the Editor:

Marty Mishow's column in the Oct. 29 edition of the Southeast Missourian referenced a traveling football team that local resident George Foster is attempting to establish. Although it was unintended, the column insinuates that there are no other alternatives for economically disadvantaged youth to play football in the city of Cape Girardeau. This cannot be further from the truth.

The Cape Youth Tackle Football League has successfully taught the fundamentals of football to the youth of Southeast Missouri for 27 years. We have players -- both boys and girls -- of all races and backgrounds from Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City, Perryville, Sikeston and even Southern Illinois. Players pay a minimal registration fee that covers calendar year operations and future expansion of the league. Since the league's inception, we always have offered scholarships for those families who cannot afford the registration fee. We continue this policy so local children have a chance to learn the game of football regardless of their financial circumstances.

We will host our final two games of the season today at Houck Stadium. Playing at Southeast Missouri State University is a special moment for our young players and is something they look forward to from the very beginning of the season. The Steelers and the Seahawks will play the early game at noon and the Panthers play the Broncos in the championship game at 2 p.m.

Come out and support the our league.

Jeff Brune,

Cape Girardeau

(Brune is the president of the Cape Youth Tackle Football league.)