Sports
2014 NSF: Athletes Seek Deaf Sport Inclusion
Some deaf athletes in Lagos have
appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to rescind its decision not to include deaf sports in the 2014 National Sports Festival (NSF).
The 19th edition of the biennial festival, tagged: “Paradise Games” is to hold from November 27 to December 7 in Calabar, Cross River.
An Olympian, Nurudeen Badmus, said that it was heart-breaking that deaf athletes had been excluded from the Paradise Games, after putting much effort, preparing.
Badmus noted that he won three Gold, one Silver and two Bronze medals for Rivers at Eko 2012 and had been working toward performing better to clinch more medals in 2014.
“I was at the London 2012 Olympics for 100m but unfortunately, I lost out in the semi finals.
“I’m hoping that the festival would be an avenue for me to evaluate myself.
“Excluding us from the festival makes us feel unwanted and not appreciated for what we’re doing and that is not encouraging.
“I’m a family man and it’s the reward I get at participating in competitions I use to cater for my family,’’ he said.
Another deaf athlete, Uchenna Eze, said that the NSC’s decision could scare away talented aspiring deaf athletes.
Eze said that deaf athletes should be allowed to enjoy the same treatment as their able-bodied counterparts.
“They should stop giving preference to our able-bodied counterparts because it does not make us feel good.
“We practically do the same thing like they do and should enjoy the same benefits at international competitions.
“We mostly perform better than they do,’’ he added.
Deaf athletes featured at the 18th NSF, tagged: “Eko 2012” in Lagos.
A team Lagos gold medalist, Nofisat Alaba, who was at the 2012 festival, said that the NSC should consider deaf athletes challenges and make them relevant.
Alaba said that the festival was the only national competition that deaf athletes often had opportunity to compete in.
“If we do not participate I don’t know when we would have another opportunity as deaf athletes to participate at any national competition.
“We need to put in practice what we have been learning after the last NSF in 2012 because it is when we compete that we can get better,’’ Alaba said.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
