Two-time Super Bowl champion Ositadimma Umenyiora believes former Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Daniel Adongo and Seattle Seahawks offensive guard Rees Odhiambo could have made it far in American Football had they gotten moral support from the National Football League (NFL) Africa.
Adongo was forced out of the NFL (America) in December 2015 following an alleged domestic violence with an identified woman.
The incident cost him playing time, leading him to be dropped from the squad.
Little is known of Odhiambo, 30, who retired from the league quite early after featuring for Atlanta Falcons and the Arizona Cardinals.
"The duo could have done better if they got full support from the beginning of their careers in America.
"As NFL Africa, we have to create the needed support system for our players to be balanced mentally, socially and emotionally," Umenyiora told Standard Sports.
"I think they did okay in the league, but they could have done much better if they had the right support.
"If our players don't get the needed back-up, they will drop by the wayside since the league in America is quite involving," the Briton, born of Nigerian parents, stated.
Umenyiora reiterated that African players should be taught how to handle success when they get into the NFL so as to prepare them for the next level in their lives as well as in the boisterous league.
The 41-year old former defensive end is currently in Kenya with top NFL players from Africa, including Brian Asamoah (Minnesota Vikings), Arnold Ebiketi (Atlanta Falcons), Paulson Adebo (New Orleans Saints), Ikem Ekwonu (Carolina Panthers and Emmanuel Ogbah (Miami Dolphins).
They are conducting the third edition of the NFL Africa camp at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani in Nairobi.
The boot camp has brought together over 30 young players from across Africa.
The camp seeks to produce seven prospects at the weekend who will proceed for high level training at the NFL Academy in the United Kingdom with almost an assurity of joining the lucrative NFL in America.
"So far we are impressed with the camp, the athletes here have shown the urge, the passion and the ability to master the game.
"We know with the right attitude and training, they will go very far,"Umenyiora stated.
At the camp, the NFL prospects have been taken through athletics and football training to introduce them to the fundamentals of American football.
Umenyiora said they brought the camp to Kenya since the country has a large number of fans following the game.
"This sport will be very big in Kenya in the coming years, we see massive infrastructures being developed here to support the sport.
"The more African players make it to the NFL Academy and to the main league the more interests will develop in the sport over here and this will translate into a massive following of the game," said Umenyiora.
One of the players at the camp, Jerry Benson, 16, from Nigeria was hopeful that he would be picked to join the NFL Academy after attending the trials for the third year running.
"I was dropped in the first edition in Nigeria in 2021, I was also unsuccessful in the second edition in Ghana last year but I'm hopeful that I will succeed in the Kenyan edition," Benson said.
Pape Abdoulaye of Senegal said he wants to play in the NFL in order to help his family out of poverty.
Though he's 21, Ahmed Ennahrawani of Morocco is still optimistic to play in the NFL someday saying that has been his childhood dream.
Rodney Sande of Kenya says his ultimate dream is to win the Super Bowl.
