Sports
Rivers Hoopers Humiliate Hoops & Read
River Hoopers last Wednesday, defeated newly promoted Hoops & Read team 83-75 at the indoor Sports Hall, Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.
Solomon Ajegbeyi led the way for Hoopers, he scored 18 points 14 rebounds, Emmanuel Balogun added 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks, Ronald Alalibo made 12 points and 3 rebounds while Bodisowei Zidougha added 10 points.
It was Ajegbeyi’s fifth double-double of the season and the first in the playoffs. The last time the forward made a double-double in a game was against NAF Rockets on June 1 in Lagos.
Hoopers struggled from the beginning and didn’t score within the first 5 minutes of the first quarter. Hoops had 4-0 run before the KingsMen eventually got a 3 point shot through Alalibo. The first quarter however ended in a tie (13-13), one of the 8 ties in the game.
Rivers Hoopers coach, Ogoh Odaudu, believed experience played a major role in their win against the youthful Hoops & Read.
“In the end, experience won the game for us, I knew the game was going to turn out like this. We were playing against a very youthful team, energetic team and they were running up and down and once we took the lead in the fourth quarter, we never gave it back, said Odaudu.
On his part, Hoops & Read coach, Charles Oso, blamed the loss to mistakes made by his team in the game.
“We were not doing so well at the free throw line and that really killed us and we went on too many turnovers at half time we were like 18 turnovers. If all these had not happened, we should have won the game”, he said.
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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