Sports
NFA To Regulate Football Academies
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has said that it will soon release guidelines to regulate the activities of football academies with a view to halting the exploitation of players.
The Head, Technical Committee of NFA, Chris Green, said on Monday that most operators of the academies had deviated from the concept.
Green said that soccer academies were to teach the rudiments of the game to fledgling talents who intended to make a career out of football.
“Soccer academies are meant for children in a school setting and not a transit point for professional players intending to further their career abroad.
“Most of the operators of these academies are exploitative and are responsible for the exportation of our footballers to all parts of the world in the name of football.
“It has now become necessary to come up with pertinent guidelines to regulate their activities so that inexperienced children are not made to pay exorbitantly for their training,” he said.
Green said that the NFA would regularly monitor the activities of the academies to ensure compliance with the guidelines.
The Rivers FA chairman said that the Governor’s Cup competition, concluded at the weekend in Port Harcourt, was part of the state’s grassroots sports development programme.
He stated that the FA would soon organise a refresher course for coaches in the state to keep them abreast with current developments in the game.
“The idea is to groom these coaches who will in turn impart what they must have learnt from the course to the players under their tutelage,” he added.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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