Sports
50 Nigerian Footballers For Training In Romania
Fifty talented young Nigerian football players are soon to travel to Romania for a training programme initiated by a sports management firm, an official said.
Markus Makan, a Director of Baba Sport Management Company, told journalists over the weekend in Abuja that the training would be for a period of four months.
Makan, a Nigerian based in Romania, said that the project was in collaboration with Club Sportive Professional Football Training Centre, Ordea, Romania.
He said that skillful players between the ages of 17 and 25 would be selected to participate in the programme.
Makan said that he decided to organise the programme because of the difficulties being faced by good Nigerian players who struggle to go to Europe to further their careers.
“Why I came up with the idea is because when I look at Nigerian football, the standard has fallen and we really need something to help the sport develop at the grass roots,’’ he said.
Makan said that the players will have professional training in Romania and after three months they will be in Belgium to give them opportunity with clubs.
“They will engage in friendly matches to show what they have, and hopefully get contracts in some European clubs,’’ the sports consultant said.
He said that modalities for selection of the players had been made with the country divided into 10 zones for the screening.
It was gathered that the trial will start on March 7 in Sokoto, with trials following in other zones such as Kaduna, Jos, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Warri, Benin, Lagos and Abuja.
The first 25 players will make their way to Romania from May to August and the second batch will be from November to February 2013, Makan said.
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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