Sports
Rivers Athletes Relocate From Diete-Spiff Sports Complex
Rivers State athletes
are currently faced with constraints in their preparations ahead of the forthcoming 19th National Sports Festival (NSF) due to the sudden dislocation from their traditional training facilities at the Alfred Diette Spiff Sports Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
This was as a result of the on-going renovation work at the complex; athletes are now scattered across the various sports venues in the city to enable them (athletes) do their daily training sessions and further prepare for the task ahead.
The new abode of the associations where their daily activities and trainings are held include the basketball complex at Niger Street, Yakubu Gowon Stadium, and former information centre along Bende Street, where facilities for volleyball, tennis among others are available.
According to the Acting Director, Rivers State Sports Council, Mr. Nathaniel Piaro, the Government directed that all vehicles within and around the Alfred Diette Spiff Sports Complex should be removed.
“My constraint now is that athletes cannot have easy access to vehicles as to convey them to their various sports centres for training, especially, the Gowon Stadium, this will continue pending the completion of the work and it will definitely affect the athletes,” he said.
Mr. Piaro, who disclosed this Tuesday, in an interview with Tidesports in Port Harcourt, said that the on-going work at the complex is part of preparations for the upcoming 2016 Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) National Conference expected to be hosted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
However, some sports such as weightlifting, kickboxing and cricket still make use of the Alfred Diette Spiff Sports Complex, while karate, boxing and basketball now occupy the facility at Niger Street, (basketball court).
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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