Sports
‘Internal Strife Derailed Nasarawa United’s Title Bid’
The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Bamaiyi Anangba has said internal strife affected Nasarawa United Football Club’s chances of winning the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Anangba told newsmen in Lafia that when he resumed as a commissioner he immediately realised that some factors were affecting the team’s performance.
He said the worst of these factors was internal strife, leading to many good players not being featured in matches and thereby creating an exodus of players from the team.
“The season was quite a challenging one. I came in when the team was almost battling with relegation.
“When I came in, we noticed some little challenges. We noticed that Nasarawa United had a very rich cream of players who were not being used.
“It got to a stage that almost 11 players left the club. We also noticed that the players were divided among themselves into factions.
“These issues affected the club’s overall season performance,’’ the Youths and Sports Commissioner said.
He said this led to his ministry’s officials, the club’s management and the representatives of the team’s players to sit down to iron out their differences.
Anangba said that this led to an improvement in the Lafia-based club’s performances, especially in the home matches.
“After we sat down and resolved, there was a great improvement especially in the home matches.
“Not only that however, we also improved in away matches by securing away draws and even an away win,’’ he said.
Anangba said all hands are now on deck however to ensure no negative factor influenced the team’s performance in the 2017/2018 season.
He assured that all issues concerning players’ welfare would be swiftly resolved.
The commissioner also said efforts were in top gear to ensure that the state-owned female football club, Nasarawa Amazons Football Club of Lafia, are motivated to win honours this season.
He said they were working towards the team emerging champions at the upcoming Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Super Four competition.
“We are doing all we can to motivate the girls to come back home with the trophy.
“We have been runners-up for a while. I believe we will not fail to win this time around.
“We will ensure that the state government takes care of all issues concerning the players to guarantee success,’’ Anangba said.
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.