Sports
Heartland To Be Restructured For Next Season -GM
Heartland FC of Owerri
will be restructured ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria National League (NNL) following its relegation to the lower league early this month.
The club’s General Manager, Oscar Keke, told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that talks were ongoing between the players and management to know the way forward.
“We will reorganise and get ready for the NNL season and the new position we find ourselves.
“But until we hear from the sponsors of the club, we can only reorganise within our ability and wait for the next line of action from the government.
“It is not every player that will want to play in the lower league, so, we will know those that will go and those that will stay before we can know what next in terms of signing players,’’ Keke said.
According to him, plans are on to keep the club in the elite league but that the “Naze Millionaires’’ as Heartland is popularly called will not waste time to fit into the NNL.
“If we see the opportunity of those wanting to sell their slots in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), we will take it.
“So far, the people we are talking with are not interested in relinquishing their position,’’ Keke added.
Heartland FC was relegated to the NNL following a League Management Company (LMC) decision that saw it forfeit three points and three goals to Plateau United FC of Jos for abandoning a match.
A review of the encounter which was a Match Day 38 fixture in the just-concluded NPFL season played on Oct. 2 in Jos had shown that Heartland breached article B13.26 of the NPFL rules.
It will be recalled that players of Heartland abandoned their match against Plateau United in the 75th minute following a dispute with the match referee’s call.
Scores were 1-1 at the time the match was abandoned, but the LMC’s decision meant Heartland lost the match 3-0.
It also officially confirmed the relegation of the Owerri-based club for the first time since its inception in 1976.
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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