Mad about sport, but unable to permanently join a team due to "family issues", Noema always longed to play rugby as a kid.
He said his childhood was spent moving from place to place.
"I couldn't really settle down into a team, and even when I did at one point, I didn't have any boots so I couldn't actually show up to any of the trials."
Noema said his single mother worked hard for her three kids, but the family never really had the money and "even struggled a little bit for food".
"She had to feed all three of us, so asking for boots was a big ask. So I never did."
After leaving school at 17, Noema studied to be a personal trainer, and now runs his own fitness and nutrition company in New Lynn.
Four years ago, while still at school, he took up American football after borrowing some boots from a friend. He "fell in love with it instantly".
In February, he was one of two New Zealanders picked for a 10-day gridiron training camp in Texas.
Noema made the most of his opportunity.
The world invitational team finished the camp by playing a US side full of top high school leavers at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Noema, who plays safety and outside linebacker, was spotted and has since been invited to play and study at the San Francisco community college, which competes in a junior college division.
He said it was a "big risk" to leave his growing business behind for a position he will have to fight for.
Part of the battle, he said, would be coming up with $24,000 - the amount it will cost for him to live, play and study for a year from June 15.
To raise the money he is organising fundraisers, including indoor soccer and turbo-touch tournaments, fitness bootcamps, and a concert. He has also set up a Givealittle page.
He plans on studying towards a business degree while in the US.
