Post by Mapalo Mwansa

A year ago, I began my career as an Audit and Accounts Junior at MHA. Yesterday at 21 years old, I signed a practice squad contract with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL. In the last 8 months, football has taken me to Bradenton, Tampa, Alabama, Wisconsin, Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Toronto, Texas — and even to Palm Beach, where I had the privilege of sharing my unorthodox journey to the 2025 NFL Draft with all 32 teams, their owners, and Commissioner Roger Goodell. You have to be relentless. Unless you’ve lived it — or had family or friends in the sport at this level — it’s almost impossible to grasp. Football is the ultimate team sport — nothing else requires this much planning, precision, and trust between so many people to succeed. It isn’t comparable to anything else. None of this would have been possible without God’s grace. I know I haven’t achieved much yet, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to take this step. My hope is that my journey shows others — especially those on non-traditional paths — that with faith, hard work, and consistency, new doors can open. The journey is far from over, but it’s moving in the right direction. #KeepPounding #SuitcaseandADream