Daniel Adongo

Daniel Adongo
No. 56
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1989-10-12) 12 October 1989 (age 35)
Nairobi, Kenya
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
College:University of Pretoria
Undrafted:2013
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:5
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Daniel Ojambo Adongo (born (1989-10-12)12 October 1989) is a Kenyan former sportsman. He moved to South Africa in 2007 to join the Sharks' rugby academy and played professional rugby union in South Africa and New Zealand between 2011 and 2013. He then converted to American football, joining the Indianapolis Colts as an linebacker until 2015.

Rugby union

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Daniel Adongo
Full nameDaniel Ojambo Adongo
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight112 kg (247 lb)
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock / Flanker
Youth career
–2006 Kenya Harlequins
2007–2010 Sharks
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 UP Tuks 3 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 Sharks (Currie Cup) 10 (15)
2012 Blue Bulls 8 (5)
2012 Counties Manukau 9 (0)
2013 Southern Kings 5 (0)
2013 Eastern Province Kings 4 (0)
Correct as of 28 June 2013
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Kenya Under-18
Kenya Under-21

As a rugby player, he plays either as a lock or a flanker, and last played Super Rugby for the Southern Kings in the 2013 Super Rugby season.[1][2]

Youth

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In Kenya, he joined the Kenya Harlequins junior team. He was spotted by South African scouts at the 2006 Safari Sevens tournament, playing in the schools category for School. In 2007, he joined to the Sharks academy. He progressed from Under–19 level in 2008 to Under–21 level in 2010.

Sharks

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He was included in the Sharks XV squad for the 2010 Vodacom Cup, but failed to play in any matches. He did play in twelve Under–21 matches later in the year and was once again included in the squad for the 2011 Vodacom Cup competition, where he made his debut in the opening match of the season, a 30–19 victory over the Blue Bulls.[3] He made a total of ten appearances in that competition, scoring three tries. He was also included in the Sharks squad for the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division, but failed to feature in that competition.

Blue Bulls

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At the end of 2011, he was signed by the Blue Bulls. He made eight appearances for them in the 2012 Vodacom Cup, but he was then released from his contract after just six months to join New Zealand ITM Cup team Counties Manukau.[4]

Counties Manukau

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He joined Counties Manukau prior to the 2012 ITM Cup. He made his debut against Southland[5] and played in eight matches for them on their way to winning the Championship and subsequent promotion to the Premiership.[6] However, he wasn't named in their 2013 squad.[7]

Kings

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He joined the Southern Kings from Counties Manukau for the 2013 Super Rugby season.[8] He was an unused substitute in the Kings' historic first ever match against the Force,[9] but he did make his Super Rugby debut the following week, coming on as a late substitute against his former team the Sharks.[10] He also appeared against the Chiefs and then made his first Super Rugby start against the Crusaders in Christchurch.[11] However, after another substitute appearance against the Brumbies, he fell below Rynier Bernardo in the pecking order and reverted to playing domestic rugby, playing three matches for the Eastern Province Kings in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition. One more substitute appearance in the home victory over the Highlanders followed, as well as playing the opening match of the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season, but his season then came to a premature end following a torn bicep injury.[12]

Varsity Cup

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He also played for UP Tuks in the 2012 Varsity Cup, playing in three matches.

International

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Internationally, he played for the Kenyan Under–18 and Under–21 national teams, and, although he initially expressed a desire to play for South Africa internationally,[13] he declared himself available for Kenya for the 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying series.[14]

American football

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On 25 July 2013, the NFL's Indianapolis Colts announced that they signed Adongo as an outside linebacker despite the fact that he had no prior American football experience.[15][16] After spending time as a member of the Colts' practice squad, Adongo was added to the Colts' active roster on 3 December 2013.[17] Adongo appeared in two games for the Colts in 2013, but did not record a tackle.

On 7 August 2014, Adongo received a bicep injury during a pre-season game, and was waived with the injury designation by the Colts the following day. When he cleared waivers, he reverted to the Indianapolis Colts' injured reserve.[18]

On 5 September 2015, Adongo was waived by the Colts.[19] He was signed to the practice squad the following day.[20] Adongo was elevated to the active roster on 12 November.[21] He was waived again on 17 December 2015 after law enforcement personnel received at least two reports of possible domestic violence between Adongo and an unidentified female.[22]

Life after sport

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Adongo's father has expressed concern about difficulties his son was experiencing after his sports career ended.[23][24]

References

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  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Daniel Adongo". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. ^ "It's Rugby Profile". It's Rugby. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks XV 30–19 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  4. ^ Nel, Brenden (10 July 2012). "Bulls throw Adongo away". SuperSport. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  5. ^ Apted, Alan (29 August 2012). "Umaga cracks the whip". Papakura Courier. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Adongo credits Counties experience for development". All Blacks. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Steelers 2013 Squad Announced". Counties Manukau. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Kings lure Adongo to PE". Sport24. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  9. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Southern Kings 22–10 Force". South African Rugby Union. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  10. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Southern Kings 12–21 Sharks". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  11. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Crusaders 55–20 Southern Kings". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  12. ^ "OP Shakes én Parkes kwyt teen vlugvoetige Luiperds". Beeld (in Afrikaans). Media24. 9 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  13. ^ "Kenya: Adongo Almost a Springbok". Daily Nation. All Africa. 16 November 2011. pp. Nyende, Charles. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Paarwater turns to Adongo for Rugby World Cup qualifiers". The Star. 24 July 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  15. ^ "Colts Make Roster Moves". Indianapolis Colts. 25 July 2013. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  16. ^ Berman, Eric (29 July 2013). "Newest Colt Brings Experience in Rugby, Not Football". WIBC (FM). Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  17. ^ Hanzus, Dan (3 December 2013). "Daniel Adongo joins Indianapolis Colts' active roster". National Football League. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  18. ^ "Indianapolis Colts Make Roster Moves". colts.com. Indianapolis Colts. 9 August 2014. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  19. ^ "Indianapolis Colts Make Roster Moves". blogs.colts.com. 5 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  20. ^ "Indianapolis Colts establish practice squad". blogs.colts.com. 6 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  21. ^ "Indianapolis Colts make roster moves". blogs.colts.com. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 15 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Police report shows disturbing details in Adongo case". Indy Star. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  23. ^ "Grace to grass: We will save Dan Adongo, family says". 15 August 2020.
  24. ^ Wanzala, Rodgers Eshitemi and James. "Prayers and tears for embattled rugby star Daniel Adongo". Standard Entertainment and Lifestyle. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
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