Sports
Amaechi Cup: Reclamation Rd, Sokoto St Clash In N10m Final Match
Reclamation Road and Sokoto Street football teams are the
last sides left standing in the maiden edition of the Street Football
Competition for clubs within the Old Township and Borokiri axis of Port
Harcourt, introduced by Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi and
tagged Amaechi Cup.
Both clubs will tomorrow at the No 1 Field between Bende and
Bonny Streets tango for the final of the competition, a match valued at N10
million, the prize money for the eventual winner, while the losing finalist
goes home with the sum of N5 million.
Expected to be at the venue for the encounter and other
closing ceremony activities are the Executive Governor, Guest of Honour, who is
also the National Deputy Chairman of People Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Sam Sam
Jaja, Commissioners in the State, other political heavyweights and lovers of
football.
The encounter, which will be preceded by the third place
match between Stadium Road and Nembe Street teams as well as some entertainment
interludes is expected to be a titanic clash if the enthusiasm, sentiment and
emotion shown by the teams and their fans are something to go by.
To get to tomorrow’s final, Reclamation Road on Tuesday upset
pre-match favourites, Station Road, beating them with two unreplied goals.
The next day, the ground’s favourites, Sokoto Road had to
dig deep to rebound from two goals down to edge out minnows, Nembe street.
Against the run of play, Nembe Street had scored one goal in
the first and second halves through Abbas Idris in the 38th minute and
Tamunokro Gideon-Stanley in the 54th minute.
As the competition poised for another upset, Sokoto Street’s
Kala Iyoki scored twice to take the tie to penalty shootout.
After six kicks by each side, Sokoto Street carried the day
4-3 to reach within touching distance of the N10 million jackpot. Station Road
and Nembe Street will now fight for the crumbs, a N3 million prize money for
the third place finisher.
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.