St. Paul Football Player Helmon Ndose commits to the University of Manitoba 

The Manitoba Bisons have a new defensive tackle coming to the team. 

From St. Paul, Helmon Ndose is a two-time best defensive lineman, who won league defensive MVP in the Wheatland Football League. 

Ndose has been a part of the St. Paul Lions for the past three years, also making the Football Alberta U18 Team North in the 2021 Summer Series as a defensive lineman. Then in 2022, he received the Lion’s Best Defensive Lineman Award.

He’s been playing football since  Grade 9 and now at 18 years old is taking it to the university level after he graduates from St. Paul Regional High School.

“He is a natural athlete, a natural leader. Kids looks up to him for guidance. He’s a player that we have put him through multiple different positions throughout the year and he is willing to fill that position even if it might not be the number one position that he wants to play,” said St. Paul Lions Coach, Mark Tichkowsky.

“He’s a team player who puts the team first and above himself.”

The Bisons are a U Sports team. They are 3-time Vanier Cup champions and not only that but 11-time Hardy Cup champions as well.

Ndose said he never even expected anyone to be interested in him, that he didn’t think we was good enough to make university level.

“The physical side is my favourite, hitting people without getting in trouble is fun,” said Helmon Ndose.

Ndose told Lakeland Connect he is atune to the mental side of the game in dealing with the mental challenges. 

“I try to mentally talk when it gets physically challenging, and I try to get mentally prepared beforehand if I can handle the toughest parts of the game,” said Ndose.

He is also interested in going to school for sports management.

“I wanna thank my parents, friends and family for always supporting me and being there, and a huge thank you to my coaches,” said Ndose. 

Coach Tichkowsky has recently won the Alberta Football Tier IV Coach of the year award.

He has been involved in St. Paul football since 1999, he not only has coached the St. Paul Lions but the St. Paul Bantam Bengals.

“It’s great to be recognized, but that recognition comes with coaches that I surround myself with. I have to give kudos to my assistant coaches for sure,” said Tichkowsky.