Sports
‘Poor Welfare, Responsible For ABS Poor Run’
Fans of Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC of Ilorin have blamed the management’s failure to settle players’ entitlements for the team’s poor performance since the beginning of the second stanza of the league.
The fans, who decried the developmenton last week in Ilorin, advised the government to urgently settle the arrears of salaries and allowances owed the players and officials.
The team had remained unbeaten in nine matches and occupied the fifth position at the end of the first stanza of the 2011/2012 Nigeria Premier League.
However, since the resumption of the second stanza, the team had not won any of the four matches so far played and had dropped to the 14th position.
ABS FC last week lost 1-3 to Sharks FC of Port Harcourt in Ilorin and presently has 27 points from 22 matches played.
A fan, Layiwola Gambari, advised the management to look for a way to settle the players and officials, stressing that further delay could jeopardise the ambition of the club.
“Unless they (players) are fed, you cannot demand for the best from them. These are players that played nine matches, home and away, unbeaten.
“With their performance last Wednesday, it showed that something was wrong somewhere,” he said.
Gambari implored the team owner, Sen. Bukola Saraki, to release funds to the club to enable the management settle the benefits owed the players.
Another fan, Abdullahi Jimoh, said it was an open secret that the players had not been paid their salaries and allowances for a while.
According to Jimoh, the failure to pay the benefits was killing the morale of the boys.
“ABS, being the only private club in the premiership, is faced with internal problem of failure to pay players’ salaries.
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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