USA Africa Dialogue Series - STAR INFORMATION: My Niece is Going to The Dance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93nli_SNArE

https://vimeo.com/145272657

My People:

"March Madness" - that is, US varsity national basketball championships,  for those who don't know - starts this week-end - and I will be joining in: on the Women's side this time!  Another name for is is "The Dance."

This is because my niece - Ayoleka Sodade, a freshman at SUNY Buffalo (my Post-doctoral alma mater), daughter of my kid sister Bunmi and her husband Tunde Sodade - is a Guard in the Women's Basketball team.  The female Bulls won their MAC Championship this past week, and are attending the Dance for the FIRST TIME EVER seeded 14th in their bracket (Sioux Falls Regionals), .  That must be partly due to Leka's contribution, you gotta believe it.

Their first match is this Saturday, against Ohio State University (seeded 3rd)- and so they stand a fair chance of advancing - fingers crossed.

Yep....

Bolaji Aluko

PS: Hey, Leka's cousin Eniola recently played her 100th match for England Women Soccer, joing "real legends of the game: Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Kelly Smith, Peter Shilton, Fara Williams, David Beckham, Casey Stoney and Steven Gerrard".

  

Unbelievable!

http://www.nigerianmuse.com/20160315094611zg/sections/spotlight-focus-on-issues/eniola-aluko-column-walking-on-for-my-100th-cap-was-emotional/

Eniola and Leka bear striking resemblance....

https://heavyeditorial.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/heavyprintablebracket2015-1-page-001-6.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780&strip=all

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http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/wbkb/2014-15/releases/20150618rvj49r

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22 Ayoleka Sodade

Height:	5-9
Year:	Fr.
Hometown:	Windsor, ON, Canada
High School:	Holy Names Catholic
Position:	Guard

GP21

PTS/G1.3

FG %22.2

3PT %0.0

FT %59.3

REB/G1.1

A/G0.4

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High School: Attended Holy Names Catholic High School...played for coach Sean Culhane...a three-year captain for the Knights...named a first-team all-city all-star and league MVP as a senior averaging 16.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.8 steals per game...led her team to a 51-9 record over three seasons...was an all-star for the Windsor Valiants who compete in the JUEL of Ontario Provincial Basketball League...also participated in track & field for the Knights.

Personal: Born Dec. 11, 1997...daughter of Tunde and Bunnies Sodade...has brothers, Babayele and Babatumi...Babayele played for the MLS Seattle Sounders...majoring in exercise science...lists her favorite athlete as Kobe Bryant...favorite food is pasta...enjoys R&B music...favorite movie is Coach Carter and favorite TV show is Grey's Anatomy...describes UB as a perfect fit academically and athletically...favorite things about UB are the beautiful campus, welcoming staff and great team...greatest athletic experience was representing Windsor in the International Children's Games in track & field in Scotland...if she could go anywhere in the world, she'd visit Jamaica.

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http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/wbkb/2014-15/releases/20150618rvj49r

UB Women's Hoops Signs Ayoleka Sodade, Finalizes Recruiting Class

Jun 18, 2015

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack announced the signing of Ayoleka Sodade to a National Letter of Intent Thursday. Standing 5'9", with a 6'0" wingspan, Sodade will join UB for the 2015-16 season.

Hailing from Windsor, Ontario, Sodade was a three-year starter for the Holy Names Knights. She is explosive to the basket and will play the one through three positions for the Bulls.

"We are thrilled to be able to discover a young lady of Leka's talent this late in the game," praised Legette-Jack. "She blew our entire staff away in her workout. She's strong, physical, aggressive and passionate. Leka is a great student and she's a young lady who knows how to play for this coaching staff. We are thrilled to have her."

Sodade played for coaches David Broad and Sean Culhane, leading her team to a 51-9 record over the last three seasons and tallying first-team all-city recognition in each. Sodade earned league MVP honors as a senior having averaged 16.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.8 steals per game. She was also named an all-star for the Windsor Valiants who compete in the JUEL of Ontario Provincial Basketball League.

Additionally, Sodade was a caliber track & field athlete, qualifying for OFSAA in the 100-meter dash, long jump and triple jump events as a sophomore, junior and senior. She also played volleyball.

Daughter of Tunde and Stella Sodade, she has brothers Babayele and Babatumi. Babayele played soccer at UAB and later for the Seattle Sounders.

Sodade joins Gabi Bade, Brittany Morrison, Kandance Satterwhite, Mirte Scheper and Tamara Brcina as members of the Bulls' 2015-16 freshman class.

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