U.S.-based Ofodiama, two others listed for CAA U18/U20 Championships
The National Sports Commission (NSC), yesterday, declared that it is yet to receive an official letter from U.S.-based sprinter, Favour Ofili, informing it of her decision to switch allegiance to Turkey.
 
News broke at the weekend that Ofili has chosen to switch allegiance to Turkey. But NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, during a world press conference in Abuja, yesterday, said that the commission still viewed Ofili’s reported switch of allegiance as “rumour.”
 
Speaking during a press briefing on the forthcoming third CAA U-18/U-20 championships billed for Abeokuta, Olopade said: “As we speak, we are yet to receive any official letter from Ofili.

In the last correspondence between Ofili and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Ofili said she loves Nigeria. As far as we are concerned, Ofili has not officially communicated to Nigeria that she is switching allegiance to Turkey.”  
 
Olopade said that an athlete, who recently confessed her love for her country, cannot suddenly declare the same love for another country. He added: “We love her and we care for her. Ofili is on NSC’s list of Elite Athletes, and she was paid training grants not too long ago. She remains a Nigerian athlete.”
 
Meanwhile, three athletes based in France and the United States of America have contacted the AFN to pledge their careers to Nigeria.
 
They are France-based Jarret Ejasian, US-based Chioma Nwachukwu, and Kelly Ofodiama.
 
AFN Technical Director, Gabriel Okon, also yesterday, said that Ejasian, born in 2009, left Nigeria at the age of one.
 
“He has sent words to us that he wants to compete for Nigeria in the coming CAA African U-18/U-20 Championships in Abeokuta. He is a potential medallist in the hurdles event.
 
“Another athlete, Ofodiama just ran 11.15 seconds in 100m and 22.54 seconds in 200m. Chioma Nwachukwu is a 400m athlete. He is currently making waves in the United States. He was born in 2008, and I am sure these three athletes will add a lot of value to our country in this coming CAA Championships,” Okon said.