Abdoul Bah

“Life is full of surprises. Who would have thought a kid from Guinea could end up living his dream playing American football?”

Growing up in a small village in Guinea, Abdoul never dreamed he would become a professional American football player. But his undeniable talent caught the attention of recruiters, and soon he was making waves as a star player in Osaka. Though he's now based in the U.S., he keeps a piece of his homeland with him through the intricate patterns in his goatee. Off the field, Abdoul is passionate about giving back to his community and supporting education initiatives in Guinea. He also has a soft spot for Japanese cuisine and has been known to cook up a mean batch of takoyaki.

How did you get into American football?

I actually played soccer growing up, but there were some American coaches who saw me playing and thought I had potential for football. I started training with them and fell in love with the sport.

What's your recipe for the perfect takoyaki?

Ha! Well, first you need some good octopus, not too chewy. Then you mix up the batter with some green onions and tempura bits, and fry them up in a takoyaki pan. Top with some okonomiyaki sauce and bonito flakes, and you're good to go!