Sports
Pepsi Academy In Search Of Young Talents
The Pepsi Academy in Abuja has organised a football competition to discover talented footballers under 17 years.
National zonal coordinator of the academy’s talent hunt, Emmanuel Ogaba told newsmen that the competition was organised to search for outstanding players.
“This is an initiative of the management of the Pepsi Academy.
“The competition was organised in order to fish out talented players who will be co-opted into the under 17 national team,’’ he said.
Ogaba explained that the initiative would be a continuous process and not a one-off competition.
“We intend to organise this competition every year. We are here to see to the success of these young ones.
“You are aware that age competition is in contention in our nation today, most of our talented players don’t succeed because they lie about their age.
“So, we are trying to put all that in check,’’ he said.
In one of the matches of the week-long competition played at Tundun Wada Secondary School football pitch, Abuja, Academy FC defeated Jos Academy FC as the match ended 3-2.
John Jethro opened scoring for Abuja Academy in the 15th minute and added a second in the 26th minute of the match.
However, Daniel Simeon and Chidi Ani of Jos Academy FC got the equaliser in the 28th minute and 42 minute respectively.
But Precious Macrock secured the winning goal for Abuja in the 87th minute of the tough encounter.
The competition which kicked off on Tuesday will end next week.
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.