Sports
League To Honour Outstanding Players
The management of the
Lagos Junior League (J-League), has fixed May 13 for its third annual gala-night and award to reward the league’s outstanding players and corporate bodies.
The Secretary of the league, told Taofiq Aromire newsmen in Lagos that the reception was to retain the bond among the stakeholders of the league.
“The three-year-old U-20 grassroots soccer competition has its usual yearly ritual to end its season with award to players and corporate bodies.
“The award is for more success, more feats and more support from our sponsors.
“Both players and our corporate sponsors over the years have done well and needed a pat on the back for more achievement.
“There is the need to elicit the support and good performance of the organisations and players for the league to remain relevant.
“We are looking towards a time when the state will totally hands-off from running the competition and allow business organisations to take-over,’’ Aromire said.
He added that the venue for the gala night will remain the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
According to him, the U-20 soccer competition is fashioned after the Nigeria Premier League with a global view of nurturing players to stardom.
“Football is a universal language that knows no geographical boundary.
“It is in that perspective that we are operating in J-League with a view to producing players that can hold their own anywhere in the world,” he said.
J-League third year season for 2013/2014 which started last September ended last March.
The competition had produced players like Akinjide Idowu, Abdullahi Alfa and Dele Alampasu of the victorious Golden Eaglets that won the last Under-17 World Cup played in the United Arab Emirates.
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.