Mapalo “Maz” Mwansa’s journey to the NFL has been unique, even for a league that continues to expand its international footprint.
The 20-year-old Mwansa grew up in Peterborough, England, and played rugby, soccer, basketball, track and field and cricket in high school. He ended up at Loughborough University to study economics and finance and turned heads when he ran the 100 meters in 10.48 seconds at a “sports day” on campus.
Told American football might be an option, Mwansa “threw myself into the university team” and has worked tirelessly since to improve. Now, after a crash course that included learning from popular Netflix series “Last Chance U” and “Quarterback,” Mwansa hopes to get selected in the NFL draft.
“I would never have thought I would be doing this four or five years ago,” Mwansa told The Associated Press. “Even two years ago, football was not in the picture for me. The journey’s been a complete whistle-stop tour, and I’m trying to soak in as much as I can and just enjoy every bit of the process.
“If you don’t enjoy it, it shows throughout your results. But I love this game, and I will continue to love her and try to better myself each way I can. The journey is crazy when I think about it.”
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker ended up with the Nottingham Caesars and then landed a spot with the national team for the 2024 European championships — all while juggling a full-time job at Baker Tilly International, one of the top accounting firms in the world.
He gained more attention at a Canadian Football League combine in the United Kingdom and landed an invite to the NFL’s International Pathway Program, which provides a 10-week training camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and a showcase at USF’s annual pro day in nearby Tampa.
Mwansa will travel to Green Bay, Wisconsin, to attend the draft and maybe make the walk across the stage.
“We hope to hear some good news,” he said.
He’s hardly alone. Here are other international players hoping for the best in the upcoming draft:
The former Alabama punter is looking to become the latest Australian to earn an NFL roster spot. He averaged 45.37 yards a punt in 2024, which ranked 11th in the nation. But his 6-foot-6, 235-pound frame has him near the top of many specialist rankings heading into the draft.
The former Florida punter is another Australian expected to get drafted and could go before Burnip. The 6-3 Crawshaw never missed a game, averaged a school-record 46.4 yards over four seasons with the Gators and was named a team captain in 2024.
The former Indiana quarterback played most of last season on a torn knee ligament. The 24-year-old Canadian had surgery in January and is expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp.
In his sixth college season, Rourke threw for 3,042 yards, with 29 touchdowns and five interceptions, while leading Indiana to the College Football Playoff. He spent the previous five years at Ohio.
The 20-year-old tight end previously played professional basketball in New Zealand and Australia. At 6-5 and 245 pounds, Salmon has NFL size, which makes him an intriguing IPP prospect.
The 21-year-old defensive lineman played at the highest level of rugby in Australia. At 6-6 and 348 pounds — and with 34-inch arms — he has the size and toughness to be a force in the trenches. He also is an IPP member.
The 6-foot-9, 320-pound Fijian is a former rugby player making the transition to offensive line. The 21-year-old Wakeham spent time with Stade France and most recently Eagling Trailfinders. He has made quick strides in the IPP program and should find a home with an NFL franchise.
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FILE - Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine on Feb. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Drones attacked a vessel carrying aid to Gaza on Friday in international waters off Malta, the group organizing the shipment said, in the latest confrontation over efforts to send assistance to the Palestinian territory devastated by nearly 19 months of war.
A nearby tugboat responded to a distress call from the Conscience, which authorities said experienced a fire that was brought under control. The vessel was carrying 12 crew members and four civilians, the Maltese government said, adding that those aboard refused to leave the ship. The group was safe and no serious injuries were reported, it said.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of attacking its ship. The group did not provide evidence for that claim or to show that the fire was caused by drones, but in a video it shared an explosion could be heard. Another video showed a fire blazing.
The Israeli army did not respond to a request for comment. Israel has cut off Gaza from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March, leading to what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the war with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.
Video from aboard the Conscience appeared to show at least two large holes in the deck, with thick smoke surrounding the ship. The person recording the footage said the vessel had just been hit twice and was on fire about 14 miles from port in Malta. The video was provided by Codepink, a grassroots peace and social justice movement.
The ship is not taking on water, but its generator was badly damaged and will need to be repaired before continuing, Charlie Andreasson, who has been involved with the Freedom Flotilla for more than a decade, told The Associated Press. He said some crew members suffered minor injuries while putting out the fire.
The damaged ship now appears to be stranded at anchor in international waters, said Tighe Barry, a Codepink member who was among a group of activists who took speedboats to the Conscience after the attack. The boats were turned away by Maltese authorities, he said, but one person made it aboard and spoke to the captain.
Barry said the nation of Palau revoked its flag from the Conscience prior to the attack, and authorities in Malta, Greece and Turkey have threatened to confiscate the ship if it comes to port. Barry said the ship was loaded with medicine and food supplies for Gaza.
“To get a new flag will take months, so they're just stuck out there,” Barry said of the crew.
Israel says the blockade is an attempt to pressure Hamas to release hostages it took during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the conflict. Hamas-led militants assaulted southern Israel that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Israel’s bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless.
When an aid flotilla attempted to break a blockade of Gaza in 2010, Israeli forces stormed a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board.
On Friday, the Conscience was hit about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla.
Andreasson said he had spoken to people on board who said there were two explosions and the fire.
Photos provided by the Cypriot authorities showed the ship with damage to its side. No one aboard the vessel could immediately be reached for comment.
Earlier the group said the strike appeared to have targeted the ship’s generator, causing a “substantial breach in the hull” and leaving it without power. It said that put the vessel at risk of sinking.
According to the ship-monitoring website Marine Traffic, the Conscience left the Tunisian port of Bizerte on Tuesday and arrived Thursday morning in the area where it reported being attacked. The organizers said the ship was hit Friday, just after midnight.
Volunteers who had traveled to Malta were meant to board the ship to go to Gaza, the group said. Andreasson said climate activist Greta Thunberg was supposed to have participated. The organization said Thunberg did not board and was safe.
About two dozen volunteers, including Thunberg, took smaller boats to the Conscience to assess the damage after the attack, said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Codepink. Benjamin said the ship's crew are from Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The attack happened as aid groups have warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that it will not have access to food, medicine and life-saving supplies needed for many of its Gaza programs if aid deliveries don’t resume immediately.
Programs at risk include “common kitchens” that often give residents the only meal they receive each day and could be forced to halt operations in a few weeks, the ICRC said.
“Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected,” the committee said. “Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.”
Brito contributed from Barcelona, Spain. Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Giada Zampano in Rome; Kevin Schembri Orland in St. Julian’s, Malta; Colleen Barry in Soave, Italy; Elena Becatoros and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus; and Jon Gambrell in Dubai contributed to this report.
Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
In this photo provided by the Government of Cyprus, a fire burns on the ship The Conscience, after a drone struck the vessel carrying aid to Gaza off the coast of Malta, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Government of Cyprus via AP)
This photo provided by the Goverment of Cyprus and taken from the EDT ship AEOLUS shows The Conscience, after a drone struck the vessel carrying aid to Gaza off the coast of Malta, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Government of Cyprus via AP)
A firefighting-equipped tug boat, left, contacted by the Malta Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) helps controlling a fire occurred on the bow of the Conscience vessel in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Malta Vessel Traffic Services via AP)
