Sports
Coach Decries’Must Win Syndrome’ In Sports
Head Coach, Kano
State Handball Association, Solomon Yola, has decried the “must win’’ syndrome at major tournaments, saying it had prevented trainers from monitoring athletes’ progress.
Yola told newsmen in Lagos that such attitude was responsible for various degrees of foul plays and irregularities in officiating.
“Athletes should be given the opportunity to show evidence of the training they have been receiving from technical officials. If per adventure they win, it will be justified.
“It is clear that the victory is as a result of their performances, rather than persuading them to win at all cost because it results to problems,’’ he said.
According to him, it is through such a platform that raw talents can be identified and other developmental programmes will be put on ground to groom them further.
“We are talking about talent discovery which is a welcome development, but we must create an environment that will enable us to really catch them young,’’ Yola said.
He urged state sports associations to pay more attention to age-grade championships, adding that it would go a long way to promote sports at the grassroots.
Yola said the growth of the sport should not be left to the national body, adding that states should do more for the progress of handball.
The coach called on technical officials to acquaint themselves with current rules of the sport which were available on the social network “to enable them to develop the athletes right’’.
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Sports
PH To Host 2026 NWFL Super Six
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.
Sports
Khana, Akpajo All-Stars Set For Friendly Match ” Morrow”
