Selma City Vikings to make debut on Saturday night

Published 1:16 pm Thursday, February 28, 2019

A semi-professional football team will make its debut in Selma on Saturday night.

The Selma City Vikings will host the Greater Pensacola Jets at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. All of the Vikings’ home games will be played at Memorial Stadium.

The Vikings are part of the Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League (APDFL). The APDFL has teams in four other Southern states: South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Texas.

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The Vikings are co-owned and coached by Tony Broadnax and Charlie Morgan. The Vikings played their first season last year in Montgomery and posted a dismal 2-8 record.

Broadnax and Morgan relocated the Vikings to the Queen City, mainly to attract a broader fan base.

“Moving to Selma provides us with a chance to service more than one county in Central Alabama,” Morgan said. “With the move, we’ve added players from all over Central Alabama.”

Broadnax said a conversation with Selma Mayor Darrio Melton also played a huge role in the relocation.

“After talking with Mayor Melton, he said the city didn’t have much for the kids to do,” Broadnax said. “We’re trying to make a difference in the community.”

Top players on the Vikings include quarterback Victor Callaway and linebacker Kevin Jones.

Several Dallas County residents are on the roster, including wide receiver Terrell Marshall (Selma High), defensive lineman Keishon Simmons (Keith High) and lineman Desharrio Anderson (Southside).

“We have some really good players on our squad,” Morgan said.

Tickets are $5 for kids between the ages of 12-17, $10 for ages 18-and-older, kids 12-and-under get in free.