Sports
Coach Advocates Grassroots Sports Dev
The coach of MCWJEF Soccer Academy of Port Harcourt, Mr Ndubuisi Ihejirika, has appealed to the Rivers State Government and multi-national companies operating in the state to encourage the development of grassroots football.
Ihejirika who made the call in interview at weekend described football as one of the best employers of labour globally stressing that a lot of youths have seen it as being lucrative.
He also said that after his graduation from the university he decided to go into soccer coaching because of the love he has for the game, adding that today he is proud that his academy has churned out a good number of players playing within and outside the country.
“When I gained admission into University of Port Harcourt, Ocean Boys FC of Bayelsa State invited me to play for them, but I opted out because of my admission into the university.
After my graduation, I decided to go into football management in order to give myself a direction.
According to him MCWJEF Soccer Academy, encourages grassroot football minting out that the academy proudly boast of players of the professional leagues both in Nigeria and overseas and also happy that we encouraged so many players to play for national through our soccer academy.
He said that football is a sport everybody wants to watch, adding that many people would encourage you.
“Based on this, we want the government and multi-national companies operating in the state to encourage the youths to shun all forms of gangsterism and other social vices in the society by encouraging them into football and other sporting activities.
“Like the competition that is going on at Number Six Field, we want the government and the appropriate authorities saddled with the responsibility of recruiting players to come and watch these local competitions where they can discover these young budding talents because it is from the grassroot you can discover young talents to replace the ageing one in our state own teams.
“If they come to this local place they can get young players to blend with the professionals because grassroot is the heart of football”, Coach Bisi lamented.
Gold Monday
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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