Sports
B’Ball: Players Call For Truce In
Nigerian basketball players have called on warring factions of the Nigeria Basketball Federation to come to a truce in the interest of the sport and the home-based players.
The men’s Premier Basketball League has not held for over a year, after the Ahmadu Musa-Kida led NBBF was dragged to court on November 6, 2018, by proxies of the former NBBF board over the legitimate handlers of the league.
The suit, an injunction to stop the NBBF from organising the men’s league, prevailed after a court sitting on October 13, with the Musa-Kida board failing to get the go-ahead to organise the league.
Read and Hoops player, Babajide Ogunsemore, called on the warring factions to unite and settle their differences in the interest of the players and the sport.
“What I see is an egocentric problem with none of the factions ready to back down for the other. They were voted there for the progress of the game, but they’ve been fighting for years.
“The players want to play and nothing else. If they have the interest of the people at heart, they should withdraw the court case, so we can go back to the court. What is going on is just about money and their selfish reasons,” Ogunsemore said.
Rivers Hoopers forward, Azubuike Ekuma, said, “They do not care about basketball, if they do, the issue should have been sorted out. Lifting the ban on contact sports will mean nothing if the league does not start.
“Imagine how many young men and women survived through this lovely game when things were normal.”
Former Lagos Islanders coach, Lateef Erinfolami, has however gone spiritual, saying prayers were needed to resolve the crisis.
“We pray that God will touch them so that this can be settled in the interest of the players,” the First Bank coach 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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