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sports Wednesday 5 OctOber 2022

International prospects flock to London for NFL tryout

By KEN MAGUIRE speed. All they need is just
AP Sports Writer the technique refinement,”
LONDON (AP) — Jason Go- said the British-born Umeny-
drick plans to “dominate” iora, who spent part of his
as an NFL offensive line- childhood in Nigeria.
man. The first hurdle seems A handful of the prospects
like a big one, though. at the combine have some
“I’ve never played an or- U.S. college exposure, but
ganized game of foot- many have played only in
ball before,” the 6-foot-5, European leagues or uni-
293-pound Nigerian said. versities or not at all. Some
“I’ve been blessed to be a are in their mid-20s. Many
quick learner, a very good work regular jobs.
student.” Emmanuel Falola, an inside
The 21-year-old Lagos na- linebacker with the Bristol
tive, who goes by “Chu,” Aztecs, is an accountant.
was one of the more than The East London native
40 prospects representing took the day off for the
13 countries who compet- combine.
ed in the NFL’s international “I haven’t been taking time
combine Tuesday at Tot- off to prepare though I’ve
tenham Hotspur Stadium. been working and prepar-
They’re hoping to join the ing,” said the 24-year-old
league’s International Play- Offensive lineman Jason Godrick, of Nigeria, center, takes part in the NFL International Combine Falola, who also tried out
er Pathway program. at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. last year.
Godrick switched from Associated Press Those selected for the Path-
basketball to football in way program will begin
January coaches were im- us back home,” Godrick and earned an invitation Giants defensive end Osi training in the U.S. in Janu-
pressed by his hoops “mix- said of the 6-9, 320-pound to the Pathway program, Umenyiora. The two-time ary and could join rookies
tape” and a few months offensive tackle. “It was whose most notable alum Super Bowl winner was on in minicamps in May.
later he saw countryman very big in Nigeria when he is Philadelphia Eagles of- hand at Tottenham’s stadi- “We don’t have that much
Roy Mbaeteka sign with got signed.” fensive lineman Jordan um, where his former team time, especially the guys
the New York Giants de- Mbaeteka, who was re- Mailata of Australia. plays the Green Bay Pack- that come from other
spite having not played in leased from the Giants Godrick, like several oth- ers on Sunday. sports,” said Will Bryce, head
high school or college. practice squad last week, er Nigerian prospects on “They have the athletic of football development
“Roy is a big inspiration for had participated in last Tuesday, came through ability, they have the size, for NFL International.q
year’s combine in London a program run by former a lot of them have the

USA Curling: CEO prioritized

athlete safety as head of NWSL

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — USA the league. Former acting The USOPC was forced
Curling says CEO Jeff Plush U.S. Attorney General Sally into sweeping reforms in
“acted in accordance Yates, who led the soccer the wake of sexual abuse
with prioritizing the safety of investigation, said Plush did scandals, including that
athletes” during his tenure not respond to requests for former USA Gymnastics
as leader of the National an interview. team doctor Larry Nassar,
Women’s Soccer League, In a news release, the curl- who sexually abused hun-
where an investigation un- ing board said it would dreds of female gymnasts.
covered years of systemic “navigate forward in a way “Our resolve to make
emotional abuse and sexu- that reviews fact and priori- Olympic and Paralympic
al misconduct. tizes safety for all.” sport participation safe for
The curling board met U.S. Olympic and Paralym- everyone guides our work
Monday after a report on pic Committee CEO Sarah every day,” Hirshland said.
the independent investi- Hirshland sent a letter to “And yet we know, this
gation into the abuses in staff that said the federa- work is never done.”
women’s soccer. tion was in contact with The report on the soccer
The soccer investigation USA Curling about the in- investigation said Thorns
found Plush, who was com- vestigations. player Mana Shim in-
missioner of the NWSL from “We understand they are formed Plush in 2015 about
2014 to 2017, was aware of reviewing the findings of Riley’s advances, as well
allegations of sexual harass- this investigation as well as as his retaliation when she
ment and coercion against the findings of their own asked him to stop.
Portland Thorns coach Paul investigation conducted Plush forwarded Shim’s USA athletes cast the rock to sweep and curl while competing
Riley, but did not do any- previously” about Plush’s email to U.S. Soccer, but at the U.S. Olympic Curling Team Trials at Baxter Arena in
thing to prevent Riley from role at NWSL, Hirshland the league took no action Omaha, Neb., on Nov. 18, 2021.
continuing to coach in wrote. against Riley.q Associated Press