Sports
CCL Campaign: Coach Faults Disjointed NPFL Calendar
Rivers United Coach, Stanley Eguma, has criticised the irregular calendar of the Nigeria Professional league (NPFL), saying it has adverse effects on his club’s preparations for the forthcoming CAF Champions League.
Eguma’s side will face Tanzanian outfit, Young Africans in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League in September, just a month after finishing second in the NPFL last season.
However, with uncertainty surrounding the commencement of the 2021/22 NPFL season, Rivers United and the other Nigerian clubs on the continent will have to look for matches elsewhere to prepare them for action in the CAF inter-club competitions.
Eguma explained that a situation where the CAF inter-club competitions start before the NPFL, which has lingered for over seven years, makes it extremely difficult for Nigerian clubs to succeed in the continent.
“That is exactly the major problem of our league – our bane in the continent, because if you don’t prepare, you cannot succeed,” the long-serving tactician said. “There’s no magic. You can never succeed. “The North Africans are always preparing better than us, and they are getting the desired results.
“Our calendar is so bad that it does not even allow us the time to re-appraise the performance of our team and then forge ahead to prepare for the next season, correct the mistakes of the past season. We do not have time for that.
“We just finished our season some few days ago, now we are going to the continent. It is not possible! Even the new players that are going to join the team, they’ve not even understood..…
“No time for pre-season. That is the problem. Until we correct our calendar, there is no Nigerian team that can go anywhere (on the continent). It is not magic. Football is not mathematics.
He added: “So, we must do the right things, put the right things on ground to succeed. “So, that has been our problem, the coaches do not even have time to work on the team, to prepare. “All our preparations, we cannot do. All our plans, our pre-season preparations we cannot carry them out because there is not time.”
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.