Sports
Athletes Bemoan Non-payment Of Cash Prizes
Winners of different
events at the just-ended two-day Lagos Triathlon fiesta have expressed disappointment over the failure of the Lagos State Triathlon Association (LSTA) to immediately pay their cash prizes.
The contestants told newsmen at the end of the competition on Sunday in Lagos that the organisers ought to have paid them their cash prizes immediately.
The competition, which involved cycling and running, was held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos and Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
The competition was preceded with a-five-kilometre walk at the University of Lagos on October 1, to acquaint the participants with the rudiments of the competition.
The contestants told newsmen that the organisers of the competition had promised to share N300,000 to the various winners in the six events of the competition.
They, however, expressed disappointment that the cash prizes were not presented to the winners at the end of the competition.
Each of the winners in the six events was to receive N50,000.
Abraham Ekiye, a gold medallist in the male event, said that after cycling and running for a distance of 55km, he was expected to be paid a cash prize of N50,000 as promised.
Ekiye, however, said that it would be unfair if they were not given the prizes as promised by the association, stressing that they had expended much energy in finishing the race.
Eke Goodluck. the gold medallist in the female category, said that the failure of the organisers to settle them immediately after the competition was tantamount to fraud.
“When you make promises and fail to fulfil them, you create room for people to doubt your ability to successfully manage competitions,’’ Goodluck said.
Meanwhile, Sikuade Jagun, the chairman of the association, confirmed the sharing of N300,000 among the winners of the six events at the competition.
Jagun, however, said that logistic challenges prevented them from disbursing the money immediately after the competition, promising that the prizes would be paid when the association has the cash backing.
“We will make all necessary arrangements to ensure that the athletes get their money. We have their contacts and we will call them when the money is ready,” he said.
Jagun, however, declined to give a specific date that the winners would be paid.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
