Sports
Boxing: Koko Attributes Victory To Intensive Training, Physical Fitness
A member of comrade Boxing Club, in Okrika Local Government Area, of Rivers State, Oba Koko, at the weekend defeated his opponent, Emughedi Sam from Diobu United Boxing Club in 75kg category.
The event was an inter club boxing championship held at the boxing gym, Niger/ Bende Street in Old Port Harcourt township.
Responding shortly after his victory, Koko attributed his success story to hard training and physical fitness, saying since heard of the competition be he went into training every day to enable him, fit.
According to him, it was by the grace of God he won the fight and not by his strength alone.
“I believe in myself as a person but I thank God for the knowledge and strength he gave to me to defeat my opponent.
For the past three weeks, I have been training very hard for the championship.
I want to fight more to enable me get more experience in the sport”, Koko said.
In his reaction, Sam gave kudos to his opponent saying that boxing is not a brotherly sport.
He explained that whenever you find yourself in a boxing ring whether you train or not, there must be a winner, adding that he was defeated in a consensus decision by the official.
“I lost to my opponent in an consensus decision after the completion of three rounds”, he said.
The competition was organised by the State Boxing Association in conjunction with the Rivers State Sports Council.
Kiadum Edookor
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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