Green Bay safety Charlie Peprah's unique tale is set to reach a climax if he starts for the Packers in Super Bowl XLV on Sunday.
Packers safety could mark rise to top with Super Bowl start
Green Bay safety Charlie Peprah's unique tale is set to reach a climax if he starts for the Packers in Super Bowl XLV on Sunday.
Peprah, whose grandfather became head of state in Ghana in 1972 before being removed in a coup and executed, was born in Texas after his family moved to the USA.
After being drafted in the fifth round of the NFL Draft in 2006, he struggled for playing time and only managed to start one game throughout his career before the current season.
But 2010 has seen him establish himself in the Packers defence and he is expected to line-up at strong safety against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dallas.
"If my opportunity came, I wanted to take advantage of it," Peprah said.
Confident
"I just wanted to always stay prepared and just go in and play football, stay confident in my abilities and whenever they called on me, just be productive. "
He added: "You always had to have the confidence that eventually one day you'll be a starter and you want to play in the Super Bowl.
"You don't know when or if that's going to happen, but you always stay thinking it'll happen one day. I couldn't have told you it would happen like this."
His father, who is currently living back in Ghana, will fly out to watch the game and Peprah says his attendance will be a special moment.
He said: "It's going to mean a lot. Growing up, he took me to practice and watched my games without knowing that this would be the outcome. This is special."
