He may not have a household name but the story of Efe Obada is one that even the disinterested reader will find amazing.
At 10 years old, Obada and his sister were trafficked to the UK from the Netherlands before being immediately abandoned on the streets of London.
After getting into contact with their mother in Amsterdam, a friend of whom had trafficked them, it was organised for them to stay with a family in Stockwell where they were neglected.
Speaking to NFLUK.com, Obada said: “It was a stressful environment and her children took precedence over us and we were like domestic slaves. We spent a lot of our time cleaning – it was not a good situation to be in.”
Obada and his sister went into social services five years later and he started harbouring anger which he used when he found out about American football while studying business at Lambeth College.
Obada said: “I didn’t really know anything about American football but I was told I had the physique and that I should try it. I fell in love with the sport. When I went to the first practice, I was just trying to get my frustration out and release some energy. I was congratulated for hitting somebody and I liked it.”
Obada began playing American football with the London Warriors of the BAFA National Leagues with whom Aden Durde is defensive co-ordinator.
Durde acted as interim coach for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys last summer and the work of Obada impressed him.
Obada explained: “I’m a very competitive person and when I went into the Warriors I attacked it 100 per cent because I saw where it could take me. I knew I was going to give it everything. It just felt right. In those moments when I was on the field, I felt at peace and I was happy. I wasn’t thinking about my life – I was just in the moment and I enjoyed that. I only played five games, but I recorded a lot of sacks!”
Obada is now 22 years old, stands at 6ft 6in and weighs 255lbs and has done so well in just those five games that he has been given the chance to impress on the biggest stage of all after being signed by the Cowboys for their rookie mini-camps in May.
“This is a dream,” said Obada who can play at defensive end or tight end. “It’s amazing and life-changing. It’s a major turning point in my life and feels like a movie.
“This could be it – I can change my life. This is unreal – this doesn’t happen to people like me. I’ve never even been outside of London since I arrived in the UK.”
And Obada’s chances of success are not the worst as he recorded a 40-yard dash of 4.63 seconds which would have left him second among tight ends who competed at February’s NFL Combine. His 121-inch broad jump would have put him at the top of the pile of tight ends so it’s clear that Obada is much more than an average player.
“I just want to make the team,” Obada added. “And then I want to get my first Super Bowl ring. I believe I can do it and I’m working hard. This is not something that has just been handed to me. I’m waking up at 6am every day and putting my body through a lot, I’m taking on criticism, I’m trying to get better and I’m trying to stay focused and motivated.
“I’ve spent a lot of time and money investing in myself. You’ve got to reach for the stars and that’s what I’m going to do. I believe I can achieve anything that I put my mind to. I can change my life and other people’s lives and help inspire people.
“I can be the person I believed I could be.”
Story via NFLUK.com
