Barely a day after Kenyans expressed concern over the wellbeing of former National American Football (NFL) player Daniel Adongo, his family in Kenya has broken the silence.
In an interview with a Local Daily, Adongo’s father, Joseph Adongo thanked Kenyans for expressing concern over his son’s wellness but also asked them to “go slow on him”.
Joseph who works in Juba, South Sudan as a banking professional whose services have been tapped by Middle Eastern countries said his son is on a path travelled by many sports celebrities who have failed to handle the pressure that comes with their status.
“Whether Dan is in trouble is neither here nor there, but I want to tell his fans and Kenyans that his family is doing everything to put things under control,” he said.
He added: “Most slump into depression hence need help. Dan’s situation needs sobriety and calmness. The media can build or destroy someone and that is why I am pleading with the media so that Dan doesn’t sink deep into depression.”
Adongo’s plight came to the fore on Friday following a flurry of shocking videos that he posted on his Facebook page.
In the series of four videos, an unkempt picture of a former NFL player sent a message of a troubled Kenyan in the US.
In a set of screenshots which he posted on his Facebook Page too, Adongo calls out a lady saved in his contacts as “mum”. He demands money to get some food, clothes, a haircut, and pay an attorney. From the conversation, Adongo sounds troubled.
He first played for Kenya Harlequins then flew to South Africa where he played for Sharks rugby academy in 2007. He went on to play for Blue Bulls, Southern Kings, and a while after for New Zealand.
With his wealth of experience he converted to American football and signed up with Indianapolis Colts in 2013. This shot him to stardom in the world of football. He penned a multimillion shillings renewable contract with the Colts in 2013.
He made impressive moves in the maiden season until 2015 when things started going south when Colts waived him for one week over a purported domestic violence case that he was under criminal investigation for.
Since then, little has been heard of the once-revered Kenyan rugby star who beat the odds to join America’s NFL.
