Sports
Coach Explains Rivers Angels, Flamingoes Friendly
Assistant coach of
Rivers Angels FC of Port Harcourt, Whyte Ogbondah, has said that the friendly match played recently between the national Under 17 team, Flamingoes and the Angels at Sharks Football Stadium, Port Harcourt was to prepare and fortify the club for the 2014 soccer season.
Coach Ogbondah stated this recently in an interview with Tidesports in Port Harcourt, before the team travel to Abuja for the final of the 2013 super six play-off.
According to him, the team is doing its best in preparation for the task ahead, saying that, preparations is now in top gear.
It was further understood that match also aimed at enabling the Flamingoes compete favourably in the 2014 FIFA Under-17 women tournament expected to start this month, in Costa Rica.
Commenting on the welfare packages of the club, Ogbondah described the welfare packages as good, adding that the players were yet to be paid last year’s match bonuses and sign on fees.
“Last season’s match bonuses and sign-on fee owed us are yet to be paid because of the political development in the state”, the coach said.
He however, stated that the players were motivated by some of their essential daily needs and feeding.
It would be recalled that the friendly match between the Flamingoes and the Angels ended 3-1 in favour of Angels FC.
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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