Sports
Rangers Vow To Thrash Insurance
With the end of the abridged NPFL 2018/2019 season in sight and teams jostling to make the ‘Super Six’ playoff as well as to avoid the dreaded drop to the lower division, host of match day 20 fixture between ‘eternal rivals’, Rangers International and Bendel Insurance has vowed to deny the ‘Benin Arsenals’ any Insurance policy.
Starting from a 1-0 loss to fellow continental cup campaigners, Lobi Stars, in a match day 19 fixture in Makurdi to cut their points lead at the top to four points, coach Olugbenga Ogunbote and his wards are in no mood to toy with the maximum points at stake in the top of the bill encounter scheduled for the main bowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Coach Ogunbote told Tidesports source that “I think it’s an important game for us. It’s a match that will give us a qualification ticket to the ‘Super-Six’, so we will give all the attention it requires and by God’s grace, we will get it right.
Yes, we have injury worries but I think we still have a few players to play the game for us because we are bound to play. With the few strong legs we still have, we shall get the needed result.”
He further said, “All I know is that whenever any team is to play Rangers, they prepare extra hard to contain us. I am not bothered by the number of Enugu boys in Insurance or the fact that their coach formally worked here.
All we are set to do is work harder to overcome whatever they shall come up with on match day. It will be a grudge match as we hope to take our pound of flesh looking back at the way and manner we lost in Benin.”
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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