Sports
MFM Begins 2011 Football Competition
The 2011 Dr D. K Olukoya International Youth Football competition began early this week at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Prayer City on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
The opening ceremony attracted no fewer than 5,000 MFM youths from across the various regions that make up the Church.
There was the traditional march past, praise worship and prayer sessions to commit the event into God’s hands.
Participants were drawn annually from MFM Regions pan Africa with footballers from 40 regions for the 3-week event.
The football event would be one of several avenues that MFM General Overseer, Daniel Kolawole Olukoya would use to reposition youths for Christ Jesus.
Competition for the coveted trophy would feature round robin matches to be played simultaneously, five matches daily, at the Prayer City and Legacy pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos.
The event would run from October 10 – October 22.
Meanwhile, Olukoya charged all players to be of good behaviour and to take advantage of staying in the Prayer City to revive their spiritual lives and seek God’s favour in their chosen careers.
The annual Dr. D. K. Olukoya International Youth Football Competition started in 2007 with only MFM branches in Lagos participating.
MFM Headquarters won the maiden edition, but the second edition was enlarged to accommodate teams from outside Lagos. MFM Ilorin defeated MFM Calabar to emerge champions.
A year later, the sports-loving general overseer, yielded to pleas from MFM regions outside Nigeria to be part of the event.
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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