Sports
Volleyball Tourney: Sunshine Spikers, Police Win Division I League
Sunshine Spikers of Ondo has emerged winners of the Division one National Volley Ball Tournament which took place at the Indoor Sports Complex of the University of Ilorin.
The Ondo team outclassed Nigeria Army by three straight sets to win the tournament in the final game played on Saturday.
The team proved to be the worthy winners after winning a total of nine games with a total of 26 points.
The Army finished in the second position with 24 points followed by Niger Brass in third place with 19 points.
Offa Volleyball Club garnered 18 points to finish fourth and are four points better than Kada Kings of Kaduna in fifth position.
Prisons finished in the sixth place with 13 points ahead of ABM of Katsina which has nine points in seventh position.
Dynamics of Anambra State and neighbouring Delta Force occupied the eighth and ninth positions with six points each while Imo State finished at the bottom of the table with zero point.
Earlier in the day, Police Force had beaten Team Imo 3-1 to take the first position in the female division with nine points.
Imo occupied the second position with six points while O.K Babes of Ogun had three points in third position with Zamfara at the bottom of the table without any point.
While speaking at the closing ceremony, President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation , Engr Musa Nimrod thanked and appreciated the host community as well as the Kwara government for providing an enabling environment for the championship.
Nimrod disclosed that the event was staged, hosted and completed successfully without any hiccups and further revealed that his board will be looking forward to stage subsequent events at the university.
He also charged the competing teams to go back to the drawing board and re-strategize ahead of the next leg of the league.
The president also revealed that the federation is leaving no stone unturned in preparing the national team for international events.
Chairman of the directors of sports forum in Nigeria, Coach Tunde Kazeem thanked the volleyball federation for bringing the tournament to Ilorin.
The director who was particularly impressed with the quality of the female division, stressed the need for the participating states to encourage their athletes.
On his own part, chairman of the Kwara State Volleyball Association, Bashorun Bankole called on private sponsors and individuals to partner with the federation in it’s bid to organise more grassroots events in order to fish out talents.
Meanwhile, information gathered from the league Management Committee of the Nigeria Volleyball, says the next leg of the division one League is expected to hold in Bauchi at a later date.
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.
-
Business2 days agoNERC Amends Order on Meter Tampering, Power Bypass For Discos
-
Rivers2 days agoKENPOLY Rector Promises To Prioritise Students’ Welfare
-
Business2 days agoNCDMB Signs Mgt Deal With Radisson, Edison…As Board’s 204 Rooms Hotel Open December 2026
-
Business2 days agoNigeria, AFC sign $1.3 billion deal to build alumina refinery
-
News3 days agoPolice Arrest Nigerian, Two Others For Kidnapping In Edo
-
Rivers2 days agoDon, Stakeholders Urge Environmental Laws In N’Delta
-
Rivers2 days agoADIAFRICA Flags-off Free Eye Screening Outreach In PH
-
Environment2 days agoIWD: NGO promotes clean energy access for women in Kaduna