Sports
League Postponements Worry Ex-International
Former Flying Eagles player, Taju Disu, has expressed worry over the delay in the beginning of the 2012/2013 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season.
Disu told Tidesports in Lagos that the recurring postponements would affect the desired results from the league. The competition was postponed from its earlier commencement date of December 1, 2012, to February 16 this year and now to March 9.
“Our league has to be made better and the people running it should give us a better job because right now I do not even think we have a league at all.
“We have not started ours here but some countries in the African continent are midway in their 2012/2013 season.
“But there is no other key to the development of football than raising the standard of the nation’s league and make it what it should be,” he said.
Disu, who also played for the defunct Abiola Babes FC, urged the interim Board of the league to do a better job, to take the nation’s football to its peak.
He said that attention should be shifted from changing league’s name, adding that football in Nigeria could still rise beyond the level it had attained.
“The recent victory of the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa should be a wake up call for us to work on our league.
“It is a sign of better days ahead for the country’s football if we can stabilise and improve in the administration of our league,” Disu said.
He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to look into the administration of Nigerian football to address all the contending issues militating against its development.
“Football is the only sport that unites us in Nigeria, I think it will not be wrong if the President comes in to re-organise its administration,” 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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