American footballer star Mwera tells Ugandans: Believe in yourself

Players under the American Football Federation of Uganda (AFFU) have more reason to engage in the sport after another player with Ugandan connections won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs early this year.

Tanoh Mwera Kpassagnon, 26, born to an Ivorian father (Patrice Tagro Kpassagnon) and a Ugandan mother (Winfried Wafuoyo) is the latest player to shine  in the sport where another Ugandan Mathias Kiwanuka scaled heights in the last decade.

Kiwanuka, who was born in Indianapolis was twice a Super Bowl champion and made it to the All-American, All-Atlantic Coast Conference, and All-Big East First teams between 2003-2005; as well as the Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2004).

Through a social media video, Mwera recently encouraged Ugandans to keep working hard to realise their dreams.

"Hey shout-out to the American Football Federation of Uganda, I just want to tell you guys that; hey man, dreams can come true; I just won the Super Bowl this year and it's amazing. Half of my family comes from Uganda.

"I just wanted to give you guys some encouraging words, tell you guys that keep struggling, keep fighting and your dream can come true," Mwera stated.

Mwera is an American football defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Villanova and was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

He attended and played high school football at Wissahickon High School in Ambler, Pennsylvania, and was recently inducted into the Wissahickon High School Alumni Hall of Fame.

Kpassagnon committed to play at Villanova University, the only school to offer him a football scholarship. He redshirted his freshman season and started as a tight end. By his junior season, he had switched to defensive end.

As a senior, he was the CAA defensive player of the year after recording 11 sacks. In a game against Pittsburgh, Kpassagnon blocked a field goal and had two tackles for loss.

Kpassagnon received an invitation to the Senior Bowl and made two combined tackles and a sack, helping the South clinch a 16-15 defeat over the North. He attended the NFL Combine and completed all of the combine and positional drills. He also participated at Villanova's Pro Day and ran positional drills for scouts and representatives. Representatives from 18 NFL teams, including six defensive line coaches, attended to scout Kpassagnon as the feature prospect, two Villanova teammates, and seven other players from smaller schools.

Kpassagnon had private workouts and visits with ten NFL teams, that included the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

AFFU president Stephen Okeng said they will engage him when he visits his mum in Tororo like he normally does.

"When he comes during the offseason next year, we shall work out something like football camps with him," Okeng said.