NFL star Efe Obada visits London school to train the kids ahead of trip to Las Vegas

In a fantastic treat for the children, Britain’s longest-serving NFL player, Efe Obada, visited Little Ealing primary school to give the youngsters some tips ahead of their trip to Las Vegas.

Last June, the West London school booked their ticket to Nevada, USA, to compete in the NFL Flag International Championships after securing victory at the national tournament at Loughborough University.

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And with the kids already buzzing for the once-in-a-lifetime trip, their excitement was sent through the roof when Obada stopped by to pay them a visit.

Throughout his career, the 30-year-old has established himself as one of the fiercest players in the division. Renowned for his resilience, the Washington Commanders defensive linebacker gives his all in every game, earning the respect of football enthusiasts around the globe.

Undeniably, at 6 ft 6, he carries an intimidating aura. But as soon as you take him off the field, he oozes the charisma of a man capable of charming even the most stone-faced of individuals. Thus making him the perfect man to coach the next generation.

While the NFL is already ginormous in the US, it’s still growing in Europe, and players like Obada are pivotal to its development. And having given the sport the credit for saving him from going down the wrong path, he’s proud to be the face of the game in the UK.

NFL star Efe Obada visits Little Ealing primary school

The British icon popped in on Friday to give the kids a farewell coaching clinic. In just a matter of days, the group of football enthusiasts will go toe-to-toe with ten teams from eight nations to be crowned champions, as part of the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

During his visit, an ever-enthusiastic Obada got stuck into the action, giving the children lots of helpful tips.

Speaking at the event, he said: “Little Ealing’s involvement at the Pro Bowl is a great example of the opportunities NFL is creating at grassroots in the UK. I had so much fun on the field with the kids. It was great to see everyone playing with smiles on their faces, and there is clear excitement for their trip. The kids are ready to go and represent the UK, and I wish them the best of luck!”

NFL star Efe Obada giving tips to Little Ealing school kids ahead of their trip to Las Vegas

The NFL is gaining popularity in the UK

Little Ealing has benefited from the NFL providing free Flag Football training and equipment to all primary and secondary schools who wish to participate.

Afia Law, NFL UK Head of Community and Grassroots Development, commented: “It is crucial to grow NFL Flag in the UK. It enables us to offer lots of different opportunities to young people across the country. They can connect with the sport and grow the game. NFL Flag is a really diverse sport; we engage a lot of different people from different backgrounds. We hope that other children seeing Little Ealing going to Las Vegas will have a real ripple effect on our programmes in the UK.”

In addition, Bobby Behzadi, Head of Physical Education at Little Ealing, added: “It is exciting for all of the students. We have got a great opportunity to go to Las Vegas and express ourselves and showcase to the world what we have been working on together for the last seven months.”

What is Flag Football?

NFL Flag is a non-contact, inclusive and accessible format of American football and the cornerstone of the NFL’s grassroots participation plans in the UK. Since the birth of the NFL Flag programme in 2017, it has quickly become one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK. It is currently played in 380 schools by 23,000 people in 26 regions across the country. Both boys and girls play the game together – with 53% of participants being female – providing a fully inclusive experience.

The Little Ealing students listening to NFL star Efe Obada's words of wisdom

The Little Ealing representatives flew out to the States on February 1. And it’s only a matter of time until the competition gets underway. In their first round of games, they will collide with the national champions from Canada, Ghana and Mexico.

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Featured Image Credit: NFL