Sports
Ex-Coaches Task NPL On Sponsorship Deal
Former national coaches, Paul Hamilton and Kashimawo Laloko have urged the Nigeria Premier League Board NPL, not to allow their title sponsorship deals to hinder the growth of football in the country.
The coaches spoke to the newsmen in Lagos on the league’s title sponsorship won by MTN Nigeria which was nullified recently.
They expressed the view that the league’s governing body should be consistent in all its deals to lift the game.
The NPL had on December 16 last year after a bidding process by two of the country’s telecommunications companies, announced MTN, represented by Total Promotions Nigeria Ltd, winner of the title sponsor.
Globacom Nigeria Ltd, the sponsor between 2006 and 2010, alleged that the bid did not follow due process and subsequently took the matter to court but later withdrew the case.
The NPL Congress last week said the involvement of a third party on behalf of a client was unacceptable to it and subsequently nullified the deal.
Hamilton, who coached the senior female and male national teams, advised that sponsorship issues should not be used to stall football development.
“The several crises in the country’s football of recent, leading to litigations and withdrawal of cases from courts is worrisome and not in the best interest of football lovers.
“I am not happy with the recent developments in our football. The NPL should do the right thing for our football to grow,” said Hamilton, a bronze winner with the U-20 team at the 1985 U-20 World Cup in Moscow.
The Director of Pepsi Football Academy, Kashimawo Laloko, called for consistency in all deals for the promotion of football.
He said that the NPL had its reasons for revoking MTN’s title sponsorship deal
but warned that something should be done to check recurrence for the league not to suffer.
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.