Sports
Nasarawa United’s Players Threaten Court Case Over Debts
A group of former Nasarawa United players who donned the colours of the NPFL side in the early 2000s have expressed their grievan-ces over the non-payment of their entitlements incurred while playing for the club.
The players, according to Emmanuel Benson, who was the then first choice goalkeeper at Nasarawa United, were reluctant to press for their monies at that time as they feared that the club management could victimise them for speaking out.
Benson told newsmen in an interview that players who had previously represented the club before them were faced with similar issues and pressed charges in court against the club owner, Nasarawa State Government, which they won.
“We are former Nasarawa United players who represented the State’s team and today we hardly have anything to show for our efforts,” Benson stated.
“We have been owed for years as none of us has received a dime from our entitlements. A few years ago, a group of players tackled the case legally and took the state government to court.
“They won the case and their entitlements were paid last year. But the players didn’t speak with us on the details of their face off with the state government.
“We could not join them because we were still a part of the club as of then and would have been tagged as indisciplined and maybe kicked out of the team,” Benson, a graduate of Geo Planning at the University of Jos in 2009, further revealed.
Benson, however, spared a thought for Nasarawa State governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, who is seemingly keen to address the situation.
“In fairness to the state governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, we have reliable information that he is interested in the case and ready to pay, but there are powerful forces that are working against the payment of our entitlements.
“We have appealed to the Nasarawa State government to attend to our issue, but so far nobody has given us any assurance or any hope.
“The only option we have now is to take legal action against the state and meet in court since it seems we have been left to our fate,” Benson, who played for the ‘Solid Miners’ between the 2010 and the 2018 seasons, concluded ruefully.
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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