Midfielder Rashid Alarape has been shining in the PDL this regular season for South Georgia Tormenta FC, and his play has caught the attention of many, including the Nigeria national team.

The 20-year-old joins the Nigeria U23 camp on Friday, as the team begins its training in Atlanta, Georgia, for the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Nigeria U23s will face the USL’s Charleston Battery at Silverback Park in a tuneup game on Saturday.

“Rasheed represents exactly what we hope happens with our players and staff here,” Tormenta FC Owner and President Darin H. Van Tassell said. “We’ve adopted the Pros Start Here philosophy, and the league has the Path to Pro philosophy, and Rasheed is our most recent example of someone who is moving in that direction.”

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A rising junior at Georgia State University, Alarape has earned 2014 All-Sun Belt First Team and 2015 All-Sun Belt Tournament Team honors. Alarape has played eight games for Tormenta FC in the club’s inaugural season, scoring a goal in the team’s 6-1 win against the Tri-Cities Otters on July 7 and assisting the game-winning goal in the team’s 3-2 win against the West Virginia Chaos on June 30.

“In the last couple of games, he’s been a huge part of our success, playing out wide,” General Manager and Head Coach Ben Freakley said. “I think his commitment on both sides of the ball this summer is really going to help him with the Nigerian U-23 staff. He’s capable, and he wants this. I think the timing couldn’t be better. We’ve been really fortunate to have him this summer.

“I think this is great for the state of Georgia,” Freakley continued. “Rasheed has grown up playing in Atlanta for guy’s like Tony Annon, who is now with Atlanta United FC, and [Georgia State Head Coach] Brett Surrency. I think having his development from this state, and for the Nigerian U23 national team to acknowledge that, is a reminder of how much talent is in the state of Georgia. I feel really privileged to have gotten to know Rasheed.”

This call-in will be Alarape’s first involvement with the Nigeria national team system. A spot on an Olympic roster previously may have been inconceivable, but Alarpe is set to make the most of this opportunity.

“To represent my parents’ country and my heritage would be a dream come true for me,” Alarape said.

“I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to train and practice with the players. I will have to go out and show them what I can do, but I will definitely will do that.”