Shay Okeola: London Warriors tight end interview

Shay Okeola is a British American Football player who plays for the London Warriors. American Football is male dominated, and she is working hard to break the mould with more opportunities for women. In this interview, we take a look at how she balances her regular life with dedication to the sport and her journey so far.

I wrote an article previously about alter ego in sports, and I am aware that you have an alter ego. Can you talk about this, and also if it was a conscious decision or it just happened?

I definitely have an alter ego. My team mates have called her “Crackblock” because she’s the harder version of me. Hits hard, runs hard, catches “bullets” (balls). Outside of football I don’t do anything , or better yet I don’t like to do anything too strenuous. I don’t like running, I bruise easy, I’m clumsy and I hate anything that can involve the slightest bit of pain , but as soon as I put on my helmet and pads it’s like I’m a completely different person. When I am playing, my mindset, emotions and spacial awareness feel like they become enhanced. It is a subconscious change, but one I expect. Shay loves the chilled life, while Crackblock is the protector. I go on the field knowing if Crackblock gets hurt, Shay will be broken which actually makes me play better because those bruises are not cute, and I can’t be a soft life babe and my whole arm is purple.

What was it about American football that initially caught your attention, and how have you stayed motivated enough to now become a professional?

I had friends that played in Uni, and I had seen it on TV but never thought to play it. When I was younger I was very athletic and could pick up almost any sport I decided to join, so when I saw someone post on twitter they were doing try outs for a woman’s team at the London Warriors , I thought it would be good to join but I actually decided against it and went about my life. A year later I saw the same post again and took it as a sign to try.

My 1st session was a killer I cannot lie. I thought my body was going into shock after the warm up, and this was the first 30 minutes of the session. I was convinced they wanted to kill me because the next morning I tried to get out of bed and I couldn’t move. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that kind of body pain and I definitely thought to never go back. However, I was actually determined to stick with it because at that time of my life things were not working out, and I refused to have this be another on the list. That determination took two years of learning the sport from scratch, learning plays , learning how to catch and run before I actually got a chance to show what I had learned and that pushed me to go harder and see where this can take me. Thankfully it took me to the world championships in Finland and find a family I didn’t know I needed.

As a woman in a sport that is still male dominated, what are some of the challenges for you personally?

It’s so difficult for the women to get as much shine as the men even though I personally believe we take it more serious. We find ourselves constantly begging for the simple things because equality seems like such a stretch. Don’t get me wrong, it has definitely gotten better as time has passed while I’ve been playing , but it’s so far from fair. I feel like it’s because we can’t yet make a career out of it like the men, for example going to the NFL, so we aren’t taken seriously. We constantly have to accommodate this even though we all pay membership, so I don’t understand the lack of involvement. Some of the best players in this sport in the UK are women due to the fact we take it more serious without any of the the egos. The National Women’s Football League (NWFL) is an amazing community and that is because of the women players and not the people running the programmes. Without us, the league would collapse.

What improvements have you seen in the sport in accommodating and encouraging women to play?

The support that comes from women in this sport is second to none now. When I started there was definitely a lot of hostility everywhere, egos , drama that stifled the leagues growth , but now although we all know we are competitors, we support each other and the growth of the women’s league. We understand there is only so much we can get from the sport, and everyone has kind of had a universal decision to make the best of the situation. Women supporting women has never been a more factual statement when describing the Women’s league, and when you join you join you are so welcomed that you want to stay because learning doesn’t feeling like learning when you’re having fun. Especially as this is a self funded sport, no one wants to pay to be in hostile environments.

You have overcome some injuries. Was there any point where you were discouraged?

Every single injury has made me want to come back better , every single time. As hard as this sport looks on the surface , I believe a lot of injuries obtained are self inflicted. You get bruises from contact, but serious injuries are mostly self inflicted, and because of that I’ve wanted to come back and do it correctly. When I’m injured I rarely think to give up, I’m always trying to see how I can get back on there because I have a point to prove . Also when I’m injured I want to get back on the field so bad, because the feeling of being on the field for me is second to none. It’s like once you get a taste of it, you want it all the time, so it’s like motivation for me to get better quicker. The way to not be injured is to be better, and I live by that.

Who has been your biggest supporter in your sports journey?

My biggest supporter has been my Head Coach, Coach Dee, who is a Quarterback for the Warrior men’s team. He has never given up on us, me in particular. His faith in me makes me want to be better, so many times I want to give up he is there to hold me up. He was the only person to never leave us, even when it has all gone wrong. He is football through and through and his determination to bring the greatness out of people should be documented in the hall of fame. He saw talent in me that I can for sure tell you that was never seen before , he took time to train me extra days to help me getting better , through the rain and snow , and that isn’t an exaggeration. He literally trained me in the rain and snow just to help me. My football knowledge , skill and achievements all have been possible because he helped me and believed in me from my very first day.

As someone who has a day job outside American football, how do you balance both?

I have training mostly on Saturday and I work Monday-Friday , so I don’t really have cross over. It does mean I cannot do the normal “out on a Friday night” because I know I have to be up early for training. Outside of that I am fortunate enough that the few occasions I have mid week training , my work place know I play and support me, so if I need to work from home or take a day off due to fatigue or injury they understand.

What have you learned from playing sports, either from your teammates/coach or the game itself that has been useful to you in your everyday life?

I have learned two pretty simple yet effective things. From the game itself I learnt that you can’t change the score if you don’t play the game, and the 2nd , my Head Coach TA has a saying “be 1% better” both work hand in hand and I carry with them me throughout my life obstacles.

Who is your sports G.O.A.T and how have they inspired you?

Siobhan Walker is my GOAT. Number 1 Wide Receiver in the country and one of the most talented athletes I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in this sport . She has inspired me to dig deeper and be better. I’ve seen her battle through pressure and injury and still give her everything to the game. When I feel like I cannot keep going I look at her and her strength to continue which makes me want to give more .

Thank you so much Shay for taking the interview. It has been a pleasure listening to you and seeing your passion for the game. I wish you all the best, and hope you achieve bigger things in this sport.