Efe Obada’s remarkable journey to the NFL took a Hollywood twist as the British defensive end got picked off an interception and registering a sack on his debut for the Carolina Panthers.
Nigerian-born Obada was left homeless in London after being trafficked into the UK from the Netherlands, but has overcome every obstacle put in front of him to make it all the way to the NFL.
The 26-year-old played just a handful of games for the London Warriors before being spotted by Dallas Cowboys scouts and heading off to America.
After failing to get onto the final rosters of bot the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, Obada made the final 53-man cut with the Panthers last year and finally got the nod to for his first start against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
He responded with a performance that earned him the respect of all is team-mates – and also the game ball for his display that helped seal the game.
I'm grateful, thank you for all the messages you know I'm going to try and respond to you all. Thank you for giving me a home and showing me so much love. I'm just overwhelmed! #KeepPounding 💙💪🏿🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/q6kPoZrzcW
— Efe Obada (@EfeObadaUK) September 23, 2018
"I don't want to go into it, but being at such a disadvantage in life and then being put in a position like this, you value it way more than some people do," Obada said on Sunday. "That hunger is what keeps me going.
"The players and coaches kept reassuring me, letting me know my opportunity was going to come.
"Not getting that opportunity straight off the bat instilled in me that hunger and that drive that when I do get that opportunity, I'm going to ball out.
"I buried my head all week in my film studies, and then with some of the things I saw, it was instinctual. I knew what was coming."
You're not taking this play from Efe‼️ pic.twitter.com/8LN4DqdgEd
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 23, 2018
Obada, who became the first player from the NFL's International Pathway Program to play in the regular season, got some huge votes of confidence from his team-mates after the game.
Fellow defensive end Julius Peppers said: “Everyone, the whole team is proud of him. He’s built very well. A lot of power, a lot of speed. The most important thing is that he works at his craft every day.
"He took the hard road. He grinded it out. I’m just really happy for him. Everybody is showing him a lot of love and he deserves it.”
Mario Addison is also a defensive end on the team, and added: "That guy has worked hard. His character speaks for itself. I'm probably more happy for him than he is. Making it from where he's from is slim to none. For him to get out here, his first game and do that, man, that's love.
"And he hasn't even scratched the surface yet. This is just the first game. He's got so much more in him. I'm just proud of him. I'm expecting great things from Efe.
"When I looked at him (after the game), couldn't do nothing but smile. He couldn't do nothing but smile. Efe's got a chrome tooth, you know when he's smiling 'cause it hits you. He lets that chrome shine."
