Sports
NPL Postpones Week Two Matches
The nascent 2012 Nigeria premier league season is set to suffer its first postponed fixtures this weekend on the week two matches of the league have been put on hold.
This postponement, according to an official of the Nigeria Premier League Board, NPL, Akin Babalola, is due to the ongoing nationwide strike and protests over the withdrawal of Petrol Subsidy.
According to Babalola, the NPL had hoped that the strike would have been called off by yesterday and that not being the case, the board would not want to put the clubs and their players at risk.
Consequently, all the matches scheduled for this weekend would have to be on hold, owing to the ‘force Majeure’.
Dolphins and Sharks FCs of Port Harcourt would have been at home to host Kaduna United and Jigawa Golden Stars respectively.
Now, the clubs would have to refocus on their week three fixtures, hoping that the prevailing situation would change.
In the week one matches decided last weekend, six clubs, Enyimba, Gombe United, 3SC, Dolphins, Kano Pillars and Wokki Tourists all recorded victories while another six drew their matches to open the 2012 Campaign.
Meanwhile, the Technical Adviser of Dolphins FC, Stanley Eguma has promised that his team would improve from their opening day laboured performance against visiting Sunshine Stars of Akure.
Eguma attributed his players’ poor show to fatigue.
According to him, “we had a very tight period, and the boys never had the opportunity to rest all this while, so that really affected their performance.
‘It is all about fatigue. But, as it is now, we don’t have any option than to live with it and improve on our performances in subsequent matches.”
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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