Sports
Nigeria Pitch Awards Set To Honour Winners
Organisers of the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards are set to host the 2015 Award Winners in an event in Lagos in November.
The event which will have in attendance top officers of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and sport editors is billed to honour and celebrate the winners and formally present certificates and statuettes to those who were unavoidably absent at the award ceremony in Kaduna.
The president of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, stated that organisers are constantly working to maintain the core values of integrity, credibility and transparency which have helped the football awards carve a niche for itself in Africa and to improve on the voting process and organisation of the award ceremony itself.
He also stated that the annual award ceremony would henceforth hold on one of the International Match Days in the month of March especially on Super Eagles Match Days.
“This will enable all members of the Super Eagles, football stakeholders and sports journalists to come together to celebrate all winners at the same time”, Philips said.
Philips further reiterated the determination of the organisers to stage award ceremonies which will guarantee the presence of award winners stressing that this was the key reason the ceremonies would hold on match days.
He said, however, ‘ nomination and voting would commence in December every year because by then, the NPFL would be over and voters would have had one full year to assess the foreign based players’.
“As organisers, we are proud of the great work that Shehu Dikko, Nduka Irabor and the entire staff of League Management Company have done to revive our domestic league,” he commended.
“The attendance in the final match between Rangers and El Kanemi is an indication of the success the LMC has achieved with our domestic league.
“The match recorded an unprecedented attendance of 48, 000 spectators and 3.5 million TV viewership.”
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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