WLB: How did the Budapest Wolves come about?
Ákos Kelemen: In Hungary, the first American-football teams were formed in the mid-1990s, but lacked financial resources. In 2004, a group of friends watching an NFL match in a local pub decided to form the club that became the Budapest Wolves, and this kickstarted the sport's revival.
They first met on Margaret Island, then moved to Orczy Kert. Wisconsin coach Lee Hlavka, who came here with his Hungarian wife, provided the professional know-how. As there were no other teams in Hungary, we started out in Austria and learned the ropes there.
WLB: Was the club always open to everyone?
AK: At first, there were only men but soon junior and women’s teams were started. As the sport developed in Hungary, our player base grew and we invested a lot of energy in providing games for all ages. Without the opportunity to field teams here, we launched them in the Austrian championships, with leagues at U19, U17 and U15 levels. Thanks to this, our coaches were soon able to create a dominant senior team here in Hungary, where our juniors now also play.
Since 2007, our women have competed in the Austrian Ladies Cup. During that time, they have reached the four finals but the local Vikings Ladies team has not been defeated since 2003.
This year we are celebrating our 15th anniversary. We now have 300 members and also run men’s and women’s handball, and women's volleyball teams, plus a cheerleading department. American football continues to be the main focus.
WLB: How easy is it to attract players when there are many other sports and pastimes? Does the Super Bowl have an influence?
AK: We hope so. The Super Bowl definitely has a greater impact than ten years ago. But we also need live coverage of Hungarian Football League (HFL) matches. DigiSport broadcasts were launched in 2016. At first, it was only the HFL final, but in 2018 we managed to have more games screened.
Despite the popular broadcasts of NFL games, the sport is still not easy to access. We reach out to youngsters with demonstrations at schools and trial events such as Sunday’s. Language needn’t be a problem – we would be happy for English-speaking players to come along.
WLB: For soccer, you just need a ball, for basketball, a ball and a hoop. What kind of equipment does a player need for American football? And how much does it cost?
AK: Initially just outdoor sports gear and studded boots. You don't need all the equipment right away, you first have to understand basic movements and tactics. Among young players, there’s a great demand for secondhand equipment, because children grow out of it, and we have a system for buying and selling.
The first things after learning the ropes are a helmet and a mouthguard, which can be picked up for around 10,000-15,000 forints. Then come the shoulder pads and other accessories. A complete starter kit is around 50,000 forints, but that’s once the child is already settled in. Membership fees are similar to any other sports club.
WLB: How are your training sessions and seasons structured?
AK: We are lucky to have Rozsnyay utca in District XIII, accessible by public transport and available to us five days a week. With such a large club, regular training is important. Sessions start at 6pm and 7pm and last a couple of hours, depending on the age group.
The senior national championship is spring and autumn. Juniors play an autumn season in Hungary, the ladies in Austria.
There are also international tournaments such as the CEFL Cup, for which our men’s team is travelling to Italy to play the Bolzano Giants.
WLB: What about plans for the future?
AK: I’d like the Wolves to be champions again – the last time a team won back-to-back Hungarian titles was in 2012 – and continue our international presence. In 2020, Hungary is organising the World University American Football Championship. Many Wolves players are also involved in the national set-up.
We are focusing more and more on social engagement such as Pink Month to fight breast cancer and providing hot food for the needy.
Naturally, we would like more people to be involved in our club – and esports are opening up new dimensions.
Trial: Sunday, 24 February, 2pm-6pm. Details here.
District XIII. Hajdú utca 43
