Sports
2019 Will Be Eventful For Handball, Chairman Assures
The Chairperson of Lagos State Handball Association (LSHA), Adeola Opeifa, on Wednesday assured that activities would be organised to make 2019 an eventful year for handball in the state.
Opeifa told newsmen in Lagos that the association intended to surpass its previous records and ensure that the sport was thoroughly developed at the grass roots.
“We have our annual events, which have been instrumental to the development of handball in Lagos, because most of them are purely grass roots competitions for age grade categories.
“This year, we have come up with measures to spread the scope of activities by encouraging schools to give the sport its needed place of pride in order to attract more players.
“Our technical officials will be visiting more schools to supervise their training activities and do the needful as a way of carrying them along with the ethics and competition rules,” she said.
Opeifa urged schools across the state to identity with educational districts in Lagos to enable them have information on the association’s programmes so as to have the opportunity to participate.
She said his association would also increase its sponsorship drive in order to have the needed support to offer necessary assistance and make playing environment suitable for upcoming schools.
“As the parent body of handball in Lagos, we seek to live up to expectations, but it takes collective efforts and for every sector to play their part well for us to achieve our vision for the year.
“We use the educational district as a medium to reach schools on the development of our activities and it is because of the large number of schools and teams in Lagos.
“The plan is to extend our sponsorship drive so that we will have more individuals, corporate bodies and fans to assist us in achieving good mileage for our programmes,”she said.
Opeifa, however, assured that the body would remain committed to initiatives that would help to discover more budding athletes and make the association stand tall among others in the country.
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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