8th June, 2010
A comprehensive screening exercise, aimed at picking budding stars for the Adopt-A-Talent Sports Programme has been slated for Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria from 18-20 June, 2010.
The exercise will be preceded by a close camping at the Games Village and Teslim Balogun Hostels, both in Surulere, where would-be talents are expected to converge on 17 June, 2010.
According to the spokesman of the coaching crew, Joe Mensah, over 200 applications have been received from parents, guardians and corporate bodies, signifying interest to register their wards in virtually all the six sports approved by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).
The screening exercise, which will be segmented into sessions, would be conducted simultaneously at Teslim Balogun Stadium and Rowe Park Sports Centre.
Coach Joe Mensah further informed that the 18 coaches employed for Adopt-A-Talent Sports Programme would be on duty to select potential stars in Athletics, Boxing, Basketball, Volleyball, Beach Soccer/Football and Table-Tennis. The athletes will be subjected to a justify-your-inclusion test before final selection, P.M.Sports gathered.
Meanwhile, letters have been sent to parents and guardians to release their wards for screening, while teachers in various schools have also been informed about the screening exercise.
It would be recalled that Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola approved a pilot study of the following sports in the programme where sponsors are encouraged to adopt talents in their sports of choice.
Sponsors, depending on available funds, could adopt a single athlete, a team or multiple athletes, a sport or sporting event and a school/club or school sports.
The programme, which is all-year-round, is designed not only to develop these talents into elite athletes, but to build them into wholesome personalities, ambassadors for state and country, as well as role models for the younger ones.
The programme is put together by a committee headed by Prince Wale Oladunjoye, Senior Special Adviser on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Raji Fashola.