Sports
NSF: Rivers Can Win In Calabar, If… – Ordu
The Head of Coaching, Rivers State Sports Council, Evangelist Ezekiel Ordu, has promised that the state would emerge champions in the forthcoming 19th National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Calabar next year.
He however, stated that the achievement would only be possible if the needs of athletes and coaches were given urgent attention by the authorities.
According to Ordu, who stated this in an exclusive interview in Port Harcurt last week, it is sad that some major and medal winning sports such as basketball and kickboxing lack regular fully employed coaches by the state.
“You can imagine a situation where a coach will not have a source of income yet expected to be regular to training. He also scouts for athletes preparing them for competitions as to make the state proud, only to go home to his family with nothing to show for his hardwork,” he said.
He however, thanked the Sports Council management for the recent conversion of few of their trained coaches, adding that the department is also planning to beef up the coaching crew with some matured athletes to further cover areas that need coaches.
The HOD continued that some of the sports have no facility to train and some are on a borrowed facility, thereby moving from one venue to another.
He thus appealed to the state government to expedite the completion of the facilities that are under construction and release the already completed ones to the sports council to reduce facility constraint.
Earlier, he called for early preparations ahead of the 19th NSF, saying that, it is important to start on time.
“Early camping could serve as a primary assessment for coaches and sports associations in readiness for the National Sports fiesta billed to hold next year in Calabar.
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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