By Jacob Williams
Leicester athlete Silas Sibanda is dreaming of playing American football in the USA after more than two years studying the sport at the NFL Academy in Loughborough.
Silas joined the highly competitive program with high hopes, thinking it would provide him the means to pursue his dream of playing and enjoying a sporting career in the NFL itself.
He acknowledges that his mentality has changed now.
Although the Academy provided top-notch facilities, exposure, and competition, he now says the experience was more complicated than he had anticipated.
He realised that some difficulties are not often discussed.
He said: “I looked at it with rose tinted glasses prior to going there. Now looking back on it I think it has a lot of pros, but it also has its cons that don’t get talked about. I would say it partially lived up to expectations.”
Despite this, Silas emphasised his first year as the most valuable part of his stay.
As the team’s youngest member, he put in a lot of effort to gain a starting position while picking up tips from his older teammates who went on to play college football in the United States.
He gained understanding of the standards necessary for progress and the obstacles facing top athletics as a result of the task.
He had the chance to travel around the world and compete, places he would not have otherwise visited without the NFL academy, which allowed him to mature as an athlete and a person.
His adventure also went well beyond the training field.
The Academy had a significant influence on his character off the field.
He said the program helped him grow at a critical part in his life and taught him “leadership, accountability, and discipline.”
His position coach left a lasting impression and saw him as a big brother by providing support during difficult times and emphasising the importance of attitude and individual accountability.
Sibanda’s experience at the NFL Academy continues to be an important moment in his quest for success, preparing him for the reality of professional football, as well as life beyond it.
He has now finished at the academy and is playing overseas for the Nurnberg Rams in Germany, working to get a scholarship to play in America.
