Sports
Coordinator Charges Directors On Grassroots Talents
The Zonal Coordinator, South-South Director of Sports, Sonny Obot has urged the states within the region to go back to the grassroots, pick and groom athletes that can represent their states at the next edition of the National Youth Games (NYG).
Obot made the call during an all South-South sports directors meeting held at the Alfred Diette Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt.
According to him, most athletes were screened out from the NYG competition due to issues of overaged not being eligible to compete for the competition, saying that about 90-95 percent of athletes were able to scale through the screening.
Speaking on recommendation on the screening exercise done in Ilorin, Kware State, at the NYG, Obot who was also member of the screening committee said recommendation will follow the report from the committee to be improved upon.
“The people who did the screening will give their report and recommendation will follow to be improved upon subsequently”, Obot said.
He however, said that with what he saw in Bayelsa State with wrestling, Nigeria will win medals at the next Olympic, saying that, the athletes were purely under 15.
“If all states would do this, sports will get to the desired height in the regions and the country at large”, Obot added.
Meanwhile, the meeting was attended by five states directors in the south-south except for Cross River.
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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