Footballer Jesse Luketa hasn’t lived in Ottawa in a few years now. As an early teenager, his lawn talent opened doors for him in the United States, where he wasted no time in glowing. But he never forgot where he came from.
The 23-year-old athlete spent Thursday morning in St. Louis. Patrick’s High School in Ottawa. It was also here that he began to attract the attention of recruiters from Uncle Sam’s country.
Then, he did what every Ottawan wants to do: he ate shawarma. Another proof that Jesse Luketa remains humble and simple even though he knows his life will completely change in the next few hours, when he is drafted into the NFL.
” I spoke to 16 teams [sur 32]. There are people calling me every day. “
Sometimes it’s a lot. But I was careful. I want to continue to be humble and happy.
Either way, if the footballer were to raise his head, even for a short time, he knew full well that his mother Rose would give him a tune-up. The latter immigrated to Canada in 1980 from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She raised her eight children on her own. Undoubtedly, he commands respect.
It was really hard for him. I saw him working hard. He sacrificed so much for us, and I will never forget that. He is my rock.
Child, the youngest visiting teenagers who have taken the wrong path, the street. Some put their feet on the dishes, and not nearly. Rose quickly reminded her son to keep good manners.
I was so happy that my mother was there for me. He told me not to be like them. I got. I keep doing something I really want to do: play football.
Proud to represent Ottawa
For more than 10 years, Jesse Luketa has focused on the NFL. These three letters make him dream. His route took him to Pennsylvania, first in a school preparationthen to the University Penn Statewhere he recorded 151 tackles, including 85 solos, in four seasons.
Despite everything, he always stayed in Ottawa. On social media, his username is: @OttawasVeryOwnindicating the stability of the sense of belonging. Since I was 9, I said I would play in the NFL and I would do it for Ottawa. This is very important to me.
It is also important for him to continue to speak French properly. After his first years on American soil, family members told him that the quality of his French had dropped. He didn’t like it.
I told myself I wouldn’t be lost. I am Canadian, I am Congolese and I speak French. This is my identity.
He will soon be an NFL player. According to forecasts, his name should be heard on Friday, in the second or third round of the annual assizes. Otherwise, the long -awaited call will be postponed for 24 hours. Only.
Where will he be? He had no vague idea. My friend Micah Parsons playing with the Dallas Cowboys. He told me that the team that would pick me up was one of those who hadn’t talked to me yet. Since then I’ve been mixedhe detailed, laughing.
Jesse Luketa doesn’t hide that he has a preference Crows of Baltimore, his favorite club when he was a kid. Whatever franchise is betting on him, he will give himself body and soul to leaders who will trust him, never to forget where he came from: Ottawa.
There is information from Kim Vallière
Source: Radio-Canada
