Sports
Quest For Second Treble Motivating Man City
Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has said that winning the Treble for a second consecutive year is an inspiration and motivation.
City won the Premier League, Champions league and FA Cup last season and are on track to repeat the achievement.
They faced Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final last night following a 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu last week.
“We want to create the legacy. We want two Trebles in a row,” said Silva.
“We want four Premier Leagues in a row. We want the Champions League twice in a row. If we win two Trebles in a row that would be legacy.
“[But] in one week we could be out of all the competitions. But we are fighting.”
City take on Chelsea on Saturday in the FA Cup semi-final and sit top of the Premier League after title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal both lost at the weekend.
While Pep Guardiola’s side are favourites to win all three competitions, they have not always been at their best this season and Silva said there has been a “hangover” from the last campaign.
“To have that hunger to again go is not easy. It’s a mix of having a lot of players injured, having new players and those that have left. New players have to adapt which is not easy,” he said.
“Our feeling inside is to fight as much as we could. We have to fight. We can fight for all three competitions.”
While his players are considering the prospect of a second Treble in a row – something no team has done before – City boss Guardiola says those things are “hypothetical dreams” for now.
“I am not going to say ‘don’t feel this’ to my players, but I have a different opinion. We are far away from those hypothetical dreams,” he said.
“When we are in the final of the FA Cup and two or three games in the Premier League and in the final of the Champions League I will start to think about that.”
After a breathless last-eight encounter in Madrid last week, Guardiola’s side will feel confident knowing they have beaten Real Madrid in their past three home games, including a 4-0 thrashing in last year’s semi-final.
Guardiola said City must have the “right energy” to prevent 14-time champions Real getting the better of them but that he does not fear Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
“If you think we have done it already it’s not good. We need that hunger to perform against teams,” the Spaniard said.
“I don’t fear Real Madrid. I respect them a lot. I have faced them many times. I’m not going to talk great things about them, and give you my opinion. And if I say I’m scared of them, it would be false,” he said ahead of their clash last night.
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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