I’d love to play for a home crowd, says London-born American football star
LONDON-born American football play e r O b i Me l i f o nw u s ays coming back for a match in the capital would be “amazing”.
Melifonwu, 23, who plays as a safety for the University of Connecticut Huskies, is one of hundreds of young players awaiting their fate in tomorrow’s NFL draft. In the draft, one of the biggest events in the NFL diary, all 32 teams select promising college football players as new recruits.
Melifonwu, who was born in The Whittington Hospital in Archway said he hoped he would be drafted on to a team with plans to play in the capital so he could make a comeback — after almost 20 years away.
The 6ft 4in player said: “I have only been back once because of training. It would be amazing for me to come back to London and play.”
With talks about an NFL franchise in London continuing, Melifonwu said he hoped there might be more opportunity to play here. “Loving football and wanting to play football, it has been a bit rough as I have always wanted to go back and be in London,” he said.
“Now, finally, football might allow me to go back. It is an awesome feeling to see football get more popular.” Melifonwu left the UK for Massachu- setts with his Nigerian parents and two older siblings when he was three, and started playing American football five years later.
He played defensive back and running back at high school, but did not consider a professional career until he went to university.
Now, ESPN draft expert Todd McShay has ranked Melifonwu within the top 50 players for this weekend’s draft.
The player is planning a small gathering with his family to celebrate, saying: “It is time that I get to spend with my friends and my family [and] a day to celebrate everyone that has really had my back and really helped me throughout this process.
“I have done everything possible up to this point to allow me to be successful in the NFL and to be drafted.”
He is open to any team,saying: ”I will be happy wherever I end up. I just want to play football.” Sky Sports 2 will be showing Draft Day 1 from Philadelphia tomorrow, 1am to 4.30am.