The NSC Director General Bukola Olopade paid a visit to the home of teenage track sensation Annabelle Fasuba where he stated the desire of the Commission to have as many young athletes in diaspora to continually identify with the Nigeria cause, and come put on the Green and white colours of the country in international sports meets in a bid to revive and re-energise the fortunes of the nation in coming years.
Already the fastest girl in her age grade in the United Kingdom, 14-year old Annabelle, a product of the Plymouth Athletic Club has been identified as a talent that will potentially go on to great things in the future on the tracks, and Nigeria has made a very early move to capture her, and request that she commits to competing in the colours of the country of her roots.
Annabelle also is the daughter of Nigerian Olympian, medalist and former African 100 metres record holder, Soji Fasuba, who, alongside his wife (also a retired sprinter) received the delegation of the National Sports Commission at his home in Plymouth.
A Monitored Talent of the Nigeria Diaspora Sport Talent Committee, of whom father Soji is an important Board member, Annabelle was directly addressed by DG Olopade who repeatedly stated that “Nigeria wants you and will make sure we give you all the support you need to get to the very top in your career”.
Accompanying the DG was Chairman of the NSC’s Diaspora Talent Committee, Dr ‘Tunde Adelakun, who also spoke on the short ceremony, saying that “where we will rewrite the history books is in our commitment not only to see you excel in sport, but to also be on the look out for you way outside of sport, making sure you are doing well in academia and preserving your future after sports by making sure you have a sound education”. Dr Adelakun said the programmes of his Committee, which includes Diaspora Athletes Monitoring Mentoring and Support (DAMMS) initiative, makes Annabelle a perfect fit for what the Board wants to build. And it makes it more poignant that with the young 14 year old already regarded by many as a podium prospect, she also qualifies for the Podium Performance Prospect recognition, the award of which was presented to her by the DG and the Committee Chairman.
Responding, Olympian Soji Fasuba expressed appreciation for the visit, and said how much it meant to the family, all members of which attended the event and the presentation. Fasuba said a lot of work had gone into the career of Annabelle to date, and the family will want to ensure that all options were considered, but mostly, the career of Annabelle and her wellbeing will be uppermost in their minds in their consideration.
This is the first visit and award of the Recognition of Project P4 (Podium Performance Prospect Project) in Diaspora as the Diaspora Talents Committee aims to bring in more and more of Nigerian born talent abroad, who, once they know of the structure and support that the NSC is providing through measures that are already seeing changes, will want to align with the Nigerian dream and be a part of the Nigerian success story in sport in the not-too-distant future.
Athletes like Annabelle Fasuba are being talked to, to come as part of the Diaspora delegation to the upcoming Intermediate Games, scheduled for Lagos later this year, and discussions are ongoing with and amongst parents on the release of their children for the Games, which clashes with school term time in places like the UK.
