Mapalo “Maz” Mwansa, a promising 20-year-old EDGE rusher, has officially signed with the Carolina Panthers, marking a significant step in his burgeoning football career. Having grown up in England’s historic town of Peterborough, Mwansa’s path to the NFL illustrates his distinct upbringing and future aspirations. His parents are originally from Zambia, and he wants to have an impact in normalizing the way Zambian athletes are seen on an international level.
Mwansa’s love for American football came a little later in life than most of his classmates. He began playing the sport seriously at age 19. His decision to go for it was fueled by Netflix documentaries “Last Chance U” and “Quarterback.” This very late start therefore resulted in him being signed to the allocation of the International Player Pathway (IPP) Program, instead of the academy. Though these challenges would have broken many, Mwansa has already established himself as a rising star with grit, tenacity, and desire.
Mwansa attributes his torque, explosiveness and straight line speed to innate athleticism. He’s looking to put these skills to work as a EDGE rusher and OLB in the NFL. He’s cut from the same cloth as Nolan Smith Jr. First and foremost, he’s a huge fan of Nolan, having had the luxury of watching him play extensively.
“American football is a very tactical sport and a lot of knowledge is needed to play the sport… I’m taking the explosive power that I have, the speed that I have, and using these traits to become an EDGE rusher/outside linebacker – to bend the edge and hopefully get some sacks and be successful in the NFL,” said Mwansa.
As a kid, Mwansa was a passionate soccer supporter, cheering for Manchester City. His hero was City legend Yaya Touré, whose career had motivated him as a youth.
“I grew up loving [soccer] and my team was Manchester City. I’m 20 years of age right now and growing up, I always wanted to be [City legend] Yaya Touré,” he shared.
Mwansa wants to raise awareness of Zambia as a sports destination. He’s using his NFL journey as an opportunity to promote the amazing talent that exists in his home country. His vision is to revolutionize the perception of Zambian athletes. He wants their success to be expected, not surprising.
“If I can pull this off – when I can pull this off – it will be great to put Zambia on the map and show people what athletes from this country can do,” Mwansa stated.
The young athlete understands the importance of representation in sports. Fond memories of Zambian athletes advancing to the international stage. One of those moments that is still vivid was seeing a compatriot grab a bronze medal at the Olympics in the 400m.
“He won the 400m bronze medal at the Olympics and everyone was like: ‘Oh, wow. This guy from Zambia – he’s achieved something great,’” he reflected.
Mwansa is all in when it comes to his new endeavor with the Panthers. His commitment extends past the game. He wants to be a pathfinder for future athletes from his homeland of Zambia. His unique journey from England to the NFL serves as a reminder of the diverse paths that can lead to success in professional sports.
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