Sports
St Joseph’s Group Wins Church’s Men’s Cup
It was celebration galore for members of Group A (St Joseph’s Group)Catholic Men’s organisation (CMO), of S t Jerome’s Catholic Church, Egbelu, Obio/Akpor Local Government of Rivers State last weekend after their team conquered all oponents to win the maiden St. Jerome’s Football Competition.
The Football competition, played at the Queence Event Centre, along Ogbogoro Road, off St. John’s, Rumuolumeni was part of events that marked the celebration of the 2019 Family Week of the church.
In the final match of the competition decided last Sunday andwatched by an impressive crowd of church members, their families and other guests, the finalists, st. Joseph and st. Peters groups treated the spectators to a dazzling football spectacle.
It was however, a closely fought battle that ended scoreless at regulation time. The encounter had to be settled via penalty shootout. In the ensuedshootout, . Joseph’s goalkeeper was in his elements as he stopped three of the opponents kicks to ensure that his group carried the day and earned the trophy at stake.
The Parish Priest, Fr. Polycarp Henetu was the Special Guest at the final.
To reach the final, st. Joseph maintained a perfect record, beating the same st. Peter’s team 3-1 and st. Paul’s team 4-0 in the preliminary rounds.
Speaking after the match, chairman of St Joseph’s Group, Sir Valentine Ugboma thanked God for the Victory and commended members for their handwork and commitment throughout the competition.
He said that the victory was a sign of many good things to come from and to the group and church.
Secretary of the Group, Mr. Chinedu Emedo on his part said that nobody gave the group a chance to triumph but that the team demonstrated that with unity, dedication and hard work, what many think impossible could be achievable.
He commended a member of the group, Chief Leo Sunday Nwagbo, who donated the jersey the group used in the competition.
St. Joseph’s group is scheduled to hold a thanksgiving on Sunday in appreciation to God for their victory.
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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