Last update on. From the section American FootballEfe Obada, a British NFL star, believes Christian Wade's American football dreams are about to become a reality.Wade, who is 30 years old, quit rugby to follow an NFL career. He has been training with Buffalo Bills since 2019.Although he has yet to play in an NFL game, this year's preseason is his best chance of getting a spot on Bills' roster.Obada said, "He has taken the time to learn his craft and, honestly. he's going shock the world this year."Wade is already making a huge impact on the NFL scene. He ran 65 yards for his first touchdown in an American football pre-season game.What happened to the ex-WASPS and England winger? How did he become a running back?Wade is still trying to make his dream debutWade was a part of three pre-season games in 2019, but he did not make it to Buffalo's 53-man roster.Wade was unable to play in 2019, but he would continue learning the intricacies and the Bills' practice team.Wade was granted a two year exemption by Buffalo when he arrived in April 2019. The pandemic ended Wade's hopes of being selected in 2020.The off-season program was badly disrupted, and there were no preseason games to show his progress.Wade was granted an exemption year in April by the Bills. This gave him both a full off-season as well as a pre-season to prove that he is ready. Although Wade didn't play in Friday's pre-season match, Buffalo has two more games before they name their 2021 squad.Wade stated that while the 2020 off-season was not the same, there were many similarities.I just had to treat it as any other challenge in my career. I just took it one day at a while, made sure I knew everything, and used the opportunity to fill in any gaps that I may have missed."I believe it's put us in a good place for this year. We've now had a full training camp, and the pre-season is over. Everything looks good.Obada's arrival has made it the 'British Bills.Obada (left), and Wade (right), summarised the atmosphere at the Bills camp during a Zoom call last Wednesday.Wade grew up in Buckinghamshire but has now settled in upstate New York.He is engaged to Lisa Ramos (American model), who is close friends with Josh Allen's girlfriend. So he spends a lot of time with the Buffalo quarterback.A weekly show that he hosted on the Bills YouTube channel featured team-mates interviewing each other. Wade would usually end the show by teaching the owners some English rhyming.The 5ft 7in Wade is now joined by the 6ft 6in Obada on a one year deal with the Bills.Obada said Wade is "like an local celebrity" in Buffalo, and that the Nigerian-born Londoner is also becoming a popular figure.The defensive lineman, who is 29 years old, laughed, "We speak differently, that's why.""Christian is so loved here. He makes everyone laugh when he's around them. He's so energetic and bubbly."But at the same moment, you can also see that he is working hard out on the field and that he is here for a reason."I don’t have to be nice about him, we have that type of friendship and relationship. You have to give credit where credit is due.Obada hopes to continue building on the best season so farObada, a 10-year-old Londoner who was abandoned on the streets, later worked as a factory worker and played for the London Warriors (an amateur American football team).He was able to do it with the help and support of the NFL's International Player Pathway programme (IPP).Obada is the biggest success story of the scheme, which was created to provide an easy route to the NFL for international players who are not enrolled in American colleges.Wade was the programme's first graduate to be on the 53-man roster. He made the announcement in 2018.Wade is now facing Obada's emotional rollercoaster of cutdown day.Obada was cut the day after expressing gratitude to Carolina for his service. He was resigned the next day.He said, "It did put an on my shoulder." "But I saw it was an opportunity to improve on what I had. It has made me a better player."In the NFL, you have to show yourself every day. Not just because you are released or transferred to another team. You have to be ready for anything.Obada enjoyed his best season, recording sacks against legendary quarterbacks Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers in 2020.He saw offers for 2021 pour in and decided Buffalo was the best choice. He's been reunited from 2018 with his old friend.The IPP programme begins with an intensive training camp at Florida’s IMG academy. After linking up with an NFL team Obada briefly returns while Wade is making his NFL transition.Wade said, "It's incredible." "I knew Efe before the journey. We're still together three years later."The team won their division last season for the first time since 1995. They also went one win away from the Super Bowl. They've now signed quarterback Josh Allen to an extension of six years and are expected to make it all the way.Obada said, "And I've got him as well [nodding towards Wade], that kind of makes my days a little lighter and brighter."
