Sports
17th NSF: A Statement Of Excellence, Peace, Security
At last, the 17th National Sports Festival tagged “Garden City Games” is here in the city of Port Harcourt. The formal opening ceremony takes place on Sunday at Nigeria’s Mount of Liberation, the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.
Port Harcourt city and indeed Rivers State by hosting the 17th edition of the Games has joined the league of Nigerian cities and states that have hosted the National Festival more than once after Port Harcourt hosted for the first time in the history of the games in 1988.
In 1988, the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Centre otherwise called Civic Centre was the highest sports facility in the state.
Today, Rivers State and Port Harcourt city in particular now has an ultra modern sports complex at the Greater Port Harcourt city axis housing world class facilities such as swimming pools, hockey pitch, tennis court and a 25 thousand capacity Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium nearing completion among others.
The presence of the new sports complex does not in any way undermine the state of the art sporting facilities at the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, the Liberation Stadium and at the old hawks, Civic Centre in the heart of Port Harcourt city.
Besides, what is probably significant is the corporate philosophy and the ideals of the Garden City Games to the host state and the nation at large.
For instance, the logo of the games in Port Harcourt has key elements which include among others things the map of Rivers State with the blue colour evincing the peaceful and hospitable nature of the Government and people of Rivers State.
The Logo further shows a calm flowing river which portrays abiding love existing among the 23 Local Government Areas while the icons bearing the Festival Torch of Unity represents the athletes of the participating states symbolising the promotion of natural interaction.
On the other hands, the colours of green and white represent national colours, natural beauty and friendly environment for the games while the orange colour is an encouraging factor urging athletes to exert energy and passion to win laurels.
Similarly, the Garden City Games has a mascot named “IBIKA” which means good friend for the 17th National Sports Festival.
In this regard, a sea mammal, the Dolphin, was aptly chosen because of his friendly disposition to humans and wonderful maneuver among obstacle with great ease and style.
Rivers State was compared to Dolphin because its people are hospitable, friendly drawing their linguistic diversity and common aquatic culture and having the ability to handle its challenges.
The costume of the mascot epitomises a combination of the rich cultural heritage of Rivers State, love for Nigeria and the relevance of National Sports Festival to national integration.
It is pertinent to point out that the bowler hat, with the festival Logo crest, firmly seated on the head of the dolphin is indicative of dignity of the Rivers man while the Nigerian map cuddled with both fins bears the insignia of various sports exhibiting the love sportsman and women have for the nation, Nigeria.
Interestingly, the National Sports Festival was established in 1973 to midwife and promote friendship, unity and national integration for a nation that just came out of a bitter civil war.
The Yakubu Gowon administration envisaged that by taking the festival to each state in every two year, the much-needed love would no doubt permeate the fabric of the Nigerian state and heal the bitter wound inflicted by the civic war.
It is on record that Lagos the capital city then hosted the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1973 and hosted again in 1975 while Kaduna hosted in 1977, Ibadan in 1979, Bennin City in former Bendel State hosted in 1981, lIorin, Kwara State in 1985 and Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital hosted in 1988.
The torch of national unity of the festival moved to Bauchi as Bauchi hosted the 12th edition in 1991, Benue 1996, Imo 1998 and Bauchi again in 2000.
Benin City in the present day Edo State hosted in 2002, Abuja the Federal Capital Territory hosted in 2004, Abeokuta Ogun State in 2006 while the 16th edition also called Kada Games scheduled for 2008, however, took place in 2009 and now the 17th edition takes place in Port Harcourt city.
Since Port Harcourt city and indeed Rivers State is hosting for the second time, Rivers State is not new to hosting national sports festival and National Sports Festival is not new to Rivers State.
The messages depicted by the Logo and mascot are clear attestation to the fact that Rivers State is making a statement inviting Nigerians to enjoy the of love, friendship and peaceful co-existence in the state.
Already, the state government has planned a wonderful and remarkable formal opening ceremony consequent upon which the opening ceremony was shifted by one day from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd July 2011 at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.
As the formal opening ceremony takes place this weekend, various state contingents have started arriving the state and the city will be host to over twelve thousand athletes and officials.
This figure does not include tens of thousand of sports loving Nigerians that will throng the city as well business men and women who will take advantage of the influx of people to transact various legitimate businesses.
The Government must therefore lubricate its machinery agencies and get set to swing into action when duty calls beginning from the arrival of contingents.
These agencies include security, health and emergency and transportation interallia while religious organisations, civil society groups and other voluntary organisation must be ready to render selfless service to guests, and participating athletes and officials to make the games a success.
The State itself stands to benefit from Micro economic activities associated with the influx of guests, athletes and officials for the Garden City Games.
In this regard, taxi and bus drivers as well as those in the hospitality business must be fair and honest to guest in the discharge of their duties.
Above all, organisers should ensure that all facilities earmarked for the games are tested before actual usage.
But one thing is clear: the Garden City games in Port Harcourt is a commitment to uphold national unity and a statement of peaceful coexistence among the diversed people of Rivers State.
Welcome to the 17th National Sports Festival, Garden City Games 2011.
Sika writes in from Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, RSBC.
Baridorn Sika
West Ham boosted their Premier League survival aspirations with a vital win at Burnley, whose own hopes appear increasingly forlorn.
While the Hammers remain 18th in the table, they are now just three points from safety with second-bottom Burnley 11 adrift of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
Given Burnley have now failed to record a top-flight victory since 26th October, a sequence stretching back 16 games, and have managed just three all season, it would take a remarkable reversal of fortunes for Scott Parker’s side to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
Meanwhile, West Ham will take heart after this success, which always seemed likely once Crysencio Summerville clipped the ball over advancing home goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, to give them a 13th-minute lead.
It continued the Dutch winger’s rich vein of form as he registered his fifth goal in as many games in all competitions and ensured Nuno Espirito Santo’s team capitalised on their superiority.
Nigeria’s Falconets secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Senegal in their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier, but the result was overshadowed by a serious injury to star forward Janet Akekoromowei, Tidesports source reports.
The first half was goalless but intense, with Nigeria carving out the clearer chances. The Falconets’ best opportunity came in the 33rd minute when Shakirat Moshood surged in from the right flank, skipped past two Senegal defenders and fired narrowly wide.
A minute later, Moshood turned provider, slipping the ball to Akekoromowei inside the six-yard box, but the forward also failed to hit the target.
The defining moment of the match arrived in the 38th minute. Akekoromowei embarked on a solo run, dribbling through the same channel she had exploited moments earlier before releasing a pass to Moshood.
As play continued, Akekoromowei went down in visible pain. Moshood, bearing down on goal, crossed into the area but Senegal’s packed defence managed to clear.
It soon became apparent that Akekoromowei had suffered a dislocated ankle. Medics rushed onto the pitch, and she was stretchered off, prompting gasps and anxious scenes among players and supporters close to the touchline.
She was immediately placed in an ambulance and taken to the hospital, with Folajomi Olabiyi introduced as her replacement.
Nigeria went into the break at 0–0, their momentum disrupted and the mood visibly subdued following the injury to one of their most influential players. Despite the setback, the Falconets regrouped after the interval and went on to edge the tie, keeping their World Cup qualification hopes firmly alive.
The Falconets regrouped after the break and finally broke the deadlock six minutes after the restart. From a well-delivered corner kick, Kindness Ifeanyi rose highest to power a header beyond Adji Ndiaye, giving Nigeria the lead. The goalscorer nearly doubled the advantage in the 66th minute, but the Senegal goalkeeper stretched full length to push her effort away.
Nigeria maintained their pressure as Senegal struggled to cope with the high tempo. A dangerous free kick from the edge of the box sailed just over the crossbar, while Moshood was again denied from close range in the 73rd minute. Three minutes later, Adeshina struck the crossbar directly from a corner kick on the right as the Falconets pressed for a second goal.
Despite their dominance, Nigeria had to settle for the lone goal, which they successfully protected until the final whistle.
Akekoromowei’s injury was keenly felt by her teammates. Captain Joy Igbokwe admitted the incident shook the side but praised their resolve.
“Yes, we missed her because she is one of our key players, and when the injury occurred, we almost fell apart, but our coach encouraged us that we just had to continue no matter what,” Igbokwe said after the match.
“We miss her so much, and I am using this medium to wish her a speedy recovery.”
Head coach Moses Aduku said an update on the forward’s condition would follow once further assessments had been carried out.
“For Janet, there is no information yet because we just finished the game,” Aduku said. “When we get back to the hotel, I think we will get the information.”
Akekoromowei’s absence would be a major blow for the Falconets. The Bayelsa Queens forward is the reigning Nigeria Women Football League most valuable player and one of the brightest prospects in Nigerian women’s football.
She has attracted interest from several European clubs, including Barcelona, Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain, and has been central to Nigeria’s qualification campaign, having already scored in the earlier rounds against Rwanda.
At just 18, Akekoromowei has enjoyed a rapid rise, starring for Nasarawa Amazons last season before moving to Bayelsa Queens, and gaining experience at the previous U-20 World Cup in Colombia.
Nigeria will now await news on her recovery as they balance the satisfaction of victory with concern over the fitness of one of their most prized assets, as the two sides will meet again in Dakar on Saturday, with the aggregate winner advancing to the final round of the qualification series.
Preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games have entered full delivery phase, with venue works and operational readiness advancing as the Games year begins.
The update was presented to the 145th International Olympic Committee Session by Dakar 2026 Organising Committee President Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye and General Coordinator Ibrahima Wade.
Coordination Commission Chair Humphrey Kayange highlighted the great progress and tangible momentum towards the Games while noting that priorities would be monitored and systematically addressed.
Venue renovations are designed to support long-term access for young athletes, while the Youth Olympic Village will subsequently be turned into student accommodation.
“We are now in Games year, with exactly 270 days to go until the Opening Ceremony,” Ndiaye told IOC members, stressing that preparations are underpinned by strengthened governance and close-monitoring framework established with the IOC and Games delivery partners.
Wade expressed confidence in meeting deadlines, saying the Olympic Village, track and field stadium, and swimming facility will be ready by March, with venuisation set for May.
“The excitement is there for the continent. I think it’s monumental that the Games are coming to Africa for the first time,” Kayange said.
He noted that government support increased significantly at the end of last year, with different ministries coming together to ensure work is monitored on a weekly basis towards completion.
Public engagement continues to build through milestone celebrations, including the One-Year-To-Go festivities and the fourth edition of the Dakar en Jeux festival.
The Dakar 2026 OMEGA countdown clock now provides a daily reminder in the heart of the capital.
Through the Dakar 2026 Learning Academy, nearly 200 of the 400 available places are currently filled, with participants from 25 African National Olympic Committees set to join the organising committee.
The Jambaar26 volunteer programme, launched in December, aims to mobilise 6,000 volunteers across Senegal.
“Beyond the sports venues and accommodation, the legacy of Dakar 2026 will be formidable, trained young human capital across Africa,” Kayange said.
The arrival of the Olympic flame in September will be marked by a nationwide tour across all 14 regions of Senegal and local celebrations across the continent.
Dakar 2026 will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, bringing together around 2,700 young athletes aged up to 17 across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
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