Sports
Apam Joins Obafemi At Seattle
MLS side, Seattle
Sounders has taken a gamble on Onyekachi Apam after they signed the injury-troubled Nigeria defender without even having a look at him.
Apam’s highly promising career has been held back by a long-term knee injury since 2010.
“Usually, we want to see players live or bring them in on a trial, but the way the deadline was and everything else, it wasn’t something we could get done,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid.
“There’s nobody else that’s really on our radar right now that’ll work as well, so we’ll do this.
“I can’t think of another time where we’ve really done it sight unseen, but we felt it was a big opportunity.”
Compatriot and Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins also put in a word for the MLS side to sign Apam before today’s transfer deadline.
“(Martins) spoke highly of him,” Schmid said.
“He’s got a good pedigree. He’s got pace, which is something we’re looking for in a central defender, as well.”
Seattle sporting director Chris Henderson has told the club’s website his team will gain from Onyekachi Apam’s experience.
He said Onyekachi Apam’s versatility and experience will be handy to help his team.
“Onyekachi brings vast experience from French Lique 1 and the Nigerian national team,” Henderson remarked.
“He is a versatile defender who can play central or wide and has the ability to start our attack from the back as well.”
Apam began his youth career with the Pepsi Football Academy before he joined Enugu Rangers from where he moved to French side Nice after a trial in 2005.
He went on to make 105 appearances for Nice before transferring to Rennes in 2010, where he made 23 appearances from 2010 to 2014.
The centre-back has also appeared 14 times for the Nigerian national team, he won silver with Nigeria at FIFA U20 World Cup in Holland 2005 and won silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
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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