Sports
Closed-Door Games: Gombe Utd Fans Plead For Review
Barred from entering the stadium for the past three home matches, fans of Gombe Utd FC, have lamented missing their darling team playing home at the ultra modern Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe.
Gombe Utd played its third home match last Sunday against Dolphins of Port-Harcourt “behind closed doors”, as fans and supporters had been barred from watching, due to alleged unruly behaviour by the club’s supporters in a previous match with Shooting Stars of Akure.
One of the supporters, Munir Musa, told newsmen at the gate of the stadium that he felt bad being deprived of the opportunity to watch and cheer his club.
“We spend money transporting ourselves to cheer the team in away matches. Yet I cannot do same in games being played at my backyard. It is painful”, he said.
Another fan, Murtala Aliyu, who arrived at the gate of the stadium at 2 p.m., said that he and his colleagues were treated like criminals for entering the stadium ‘by chance’.
“The back gate was opened for journalists and other officials, so we seized the opportunity to rush in, but were fished and sent out by gun and baton wielding policemen ‘’he complained.
Aliyu state that without spectators, the league had been stripped off of its entertainment value.
“You can imagine a Premier league match without drumming, whistling, dancing and occasional release of verbal missiles. It is simply just flat, as flat as tea without sugar.
“Even those watching it over the television will not find the empty seats pleasing to their eyes”, he analysed.
Other spectators who spoke, called on the football authorities to find other ways of punishing clubs, noting that barring spectators also affected gate-takings.
In his remarks on the issue, the Assistant Secretary of Gombe FA, Musa Sule, said although they were managing the situation, Gombe Utd would have been better off with cheering supporters at the stadium.
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.