A Roman gladiator: Riders’ Baldonado left Italy for football career

Growing up in Rome, Habakkuk Baldonado had never even heard of American football until he was 13 years old and his parents added a new sports package to their television deal.

But something about the game immediately drew the Italian to it.

“I just saw it on TV and it looked interesting,” Baldonado said. “It’s the ultimate team sport, so I was able to find a family on all the teams I have played with. I love playing with other people and the accountability factor.

“I wouldn’t say (it’s) violent or aggressive but it has a lot of intensity and I love that about it.”

Despite not knowing about the sport until he was a teenager, Baldonado has forged a path that brought him across the Atlantic Ocean to play in America and ultimately in Canada as a member of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Riders will try to end a six-game losing streak on Saturday as they host the Toronto Argonauts. Kickoff for the game is set for 2 p.m.

Baldonado didn’t start playing the game until he was 16.

“Growing up, I played a lot of different sports and I believe all those sports at the end helped me become a better football player,” the 24-year-old said. “I’m just naturally super competitive so I strive for greatness and try to improve every day.”

By 17, he had decided to move to Florida in order to continue playing.

“It was a big transition as a 17-year-old kid, moving (to North America) on my own and being on my own ever since. It was definitely worth it and it was a lot of fun,” Baldonado said. “One of my Italian coaches had contacts with a coach in Florida and he put me in contact with the coach in Florida and I just moved right away.”

Baldonado played his senior season of high school football at Clearwater Academy International in Clearwater, Fla., and recorded 30.5 sacks there that season.

It wasn’t just a new level of competition the defensive end had to get used to, but also the different American foods and quirks – such as pineapple on pizza.

“I was surprised by the food that they eat in the U.S. It’s different. But Italy is known for its food,” Baldonado said. “The first place I went to eat at was Hooters when I went to Florida so that was very different.”

His performances on the field led to him receiving offers from colleges to continue playing at the next level.

“It was a lot of fun. I worked towards it so I wouldn’t say it was unexpected because that’s what I was working for. But it was amazing,” Baldonado said.

He chose to play with the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and registered 99 tackles and 15 sacks in 40 games with them. While he didn’t get selected in the NFL draft, he was taken in the second round (12th overall) by the Riders in the CFL’s global draft.

But before coming to Canada, an opportunity arose for him to sign with the New York Giants. He attended training camp and appeared in three pre-season games for the NFL club, registering four tackles and a sack.

“It was a lot of fun. I’m competitive and I work. I played the pre-season with them and had a really good pre-season,” Baldonado said. “It was interesting, but if you work hard towards something, you can always achieve it.”

He eventually was released and rather than wait to see if another opportunity would come up in the NFL, Baldonado elected to move to Canada and sign with the Riders.

“I don’t like to stand around and do nothing for too long,” Baldonado said. “(The Giants) released me so I was like, ‘You know what? Instead of waiting around for another team to call me, let’s go play in the CFL and see what happens.’ ”

Now, just seven years after making his move to the U.S., Baldonado has appeared in three games for the Riders, recording two defensive tackles and a tackle for loss.

“This is my job and this is what I do,” he said. “When you put me out there, I make plays.”