Sports
King’s Cup Championship, Learning Process – Scrabble Coach
The National Coach, Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Victor Okwurere, has said that the King’s Cup Championship in Thailand educated the NSF’s technical team on the sport’s emerging rules.
Okwurere told newsmen that during the competition which held from June 26 to June 29, the technical team understudied new techniques of the game.
“We used the competition to understudy the new technicalities in the sport and we’ll use it to boost the technical aspects of the Godswill Akpabio Classics in September.
“And with that, we’ll be able to put up a hitch-free tournament in September without issues of bad officiating from participants because it involves a lot of cash prizes and players from across the world.
“And the King’s Cup was a good platform to use to expose our technical team to the rules,” the coach said.
He disclosed that the NSF would use the Godswill Akpabio Scrabble Classics to train players for the African Scrabble Championship in Tanzania in November.
“Apart from us using the King’s Cup as a preparatory platform for the Godswill Akpabio Classics, it was also geared towards monitoring players’ performance ahead of the African Scrabble Championship.
“As you know, we’re the defending champions for the African Scrabble Championship so we need to prepare adequately,” he said.
It will be recalled that Jighere Wiliton won the 8th African Scrabble Championship in Nairobi, Kenya in 2011.
The coach also commended the performance of Nigerian players at the King’s Cup, saying it was a positive sign of development in the sport.
“It was a good result and a positive sign that indicates we are not doing badly in the sport in the world if we have a player among the first twenty.
“We had over 250 players in the master’s category alone to tell you how prestigious the tournament is and we had players in the top forty,” he said.
The coach disclosed that Bob Okoridem emerged 14th in the master’s category, while himself and the NSF President, Toke Aka, were among the top 40.
The NSF scribe said that he was commending the players who participated because they sponsored themselves to the event.
“We did not go with our very best because we had the challenge of sponsorship, so most of the players sponsored themselves to the tournament.
“This shows that with the necessary competitive environment a players’ best can be displayed,” he 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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