Mapalo 'Maz' Mwansa, a new signing for the Carolina Panthers, always dreamed of being like Manchester City great Yaya Touré, but he had lost hope in pursuing sports. Raised in England by Zambian parents, his passion for soccer waned until his friend Henry Rowland recognized his sprinting skills during a casual sports day at university. Rowland's encouragement pushed Mwansa to explore American football, leading him to engage with sport through documentaries and rekindle his athletic career, culminating in his signing with the Panthers.
Mwansa reflected, 'I grew up loving [soccer] and my team was Manchester City. I always wanted to be [City legend] Yaya Touré.' Therefore, his footballing heritage displayed a longing for the sport that transcended through his upbringing.
At one point, Mwansa stated, 'At that point in time, I said I didn't play any sport competitively; I was just going to the gym.' This indicated a critical juncture in his life when he had surrendered his dreams.
Rowland's casual remark that it was a 'waste' sparked the transformative decision for Mwansa, who mentioned, 'I took on American football as he suggested... I continued to grow a liking for the sport.'
Reflecting on transitioning from soccer to football, Mwansa described, 'I went home, watched Last Chance U, went on Netflix, watched the Quarterback documentary,' engaging deeply with these narratives, which helped fuel his passion for the game.
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