Sports
‘Sunshine Stars, 60% Ready For 2019/2020 NPFL’
The President, Sunshine Stars Football Club, Tajudeen Akinyemi, of Akure said his club was 60 per cent ready for the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Tidesports source reports that the 2019/2020 NPFL season is expected to kick off November 3 and ends May 30, 2020.
Akinyemi told Tidesports that preparations were ongoing to ensure that the team was 100 per cent ready before the commencement of the league season.
“I can tell you that we are 60 per cent ready for the league.So, we still have 40 per cent of work to do before the commencement of the league.
“We opened a two-week training camp on October 16 in Ibadan.
“We are going to stay in Ibadan till October 29 and also play some friendly matches before traveling to Enugu for our first league game on November 3,” he said.
On his prediction for their first game of the season, the club’s president, who also doubles as the Chairman, Ondo State Football Agency, said fans should expect a nervy and entertaining match between two big clubs.
“We begin our campaign against Rangers International FC of Enugu at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Stadium and to me that has to be the star game of Match day one.
“These are two big clubs who have represented the country at the continental stage on several occasions.
“So, everybody knows that Sunshine Stars and Rangers duel is always a cracker and hopefully, the game should live up to the expectations of the fans,” 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.