Exactly ten days away, all roads will lead to the Hertfordshire Sports Village in the United Kingdom…..a complete sports facility in a university – the University of Hertfordshire where we will have a first-of-its-kind gathering of Nigerians, and people of Nigerian descent come together in the name of sport, to showcase their talent, to demonstrate their desire to be considered and to hear stories of potential success in sport, wearing the green and white colours of Nigeria on the global stage.
On 17 July, the Nigeria Diaspora Sport Committee will be hosting this multi sport event, which will draw a host of sports stars, and will feature exhibition games and showcase Nigeria.
Starting from 9am on the day, athletes drawn from a diverse mix of sports will start to converge at the de Havilland campus of the University, to register and start to play the sports they so want to be involved in.
They will be met by the custodians of sport in Nigeria, the people leading the charge for Nigeria to become the force that its talent and potential deserve – National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade; their presence a further testament to their commitment to drive the government’s desire to use sport as a perfect and veritable tool for renewed hope for the Nigerian people.
The occasion will also be graced by the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu who will be on hand to receive the host of invitees to the event.
An invitation-only event, members of the Committee have carefully selected athletes to attend and come and align with the Nigerian spirit, to show how welcoming Nigeria is to their talent and how supportive Nigeria can be to their cause in their attempt to attain global triumph and visibility in their careers.
Headline events on the day will see exhibition matches for the national team of netball all drafted from diaspora, playing against Pakistan; a basketball exhibition driven by ex Olympian, five time African champion d’Tigress Dr Sarah Ogoke who is also a Vice President of the Committee.
We will see taekwondo on exhibition as will be golf….chaired and tutored by the only Nigerian woman on the Women’s PGA golf circuit, Georgia Oboh. Table tennis will be on show, with seven-time Olympian Funke Oshonaike on hand to guide and provide mentorship.
Former Super Eagles stars Seyi Olofinjana and goalkeeper Carl Ikeme both of English Premier League pedigree will deliver football drill and give national selector Eric Chelle some pleasant selection headaches to contend with, as we continue to unearth talent of Nigerian origin in football in both gender categories.
Committee Chair Dr Tunde Adelakun said of the event with excitement, “Friday 17 July, barely a week to the commencement of the Commonwealth Games which holds a lot of hope for Nigeria, will be a day to be remembered as the day we go officially intentional in our quest to bring glory days to Nigeria on the fields, on the tracks and on the courts, using what is indisputably ours – our youngsters of Nigerian origin, all over the world”.
It is in 10 days, and we are all looking forward to it.
Any enquiries please contact hello@nigeriadiasporasports.com