Sports
Edo Cricket Association Targets 5,000 Students
Edo Cricket Association has set a target of mentoring and grooming 5,000 students in 10 selected schools in the state under its “Catch them Young” age-grade programme.
Age-Grade Coach of Edo Cricket Association, Theophilus Ibodeme, disclosed this to newsmen in Benin yesterday.
“The programme, which is being executed as part of the association’s ‘Edo Schools Cricket Quarterly Outreach’, will last for seven days, starting from Wednesday and ending on July 7.
“The programme will see the association visiting two schools each day and with a target of introducing the game to 500 students in each school,” Ibodeme, who is also the Regional Development Officer for Grassroots Development at the Nigeria Cricket Federation, said.
He added that the procedure in the association’s primary and secondary schools programme was to catch the athletes young and groom them to stardom.
“When you introduce the game to them in the early stage, they can build up a better future in the game,” the coach said.
Ibodeme, while adding that the outreach was entering its second edition since the inaugural one in November 2016, noted that the 2016 programme’s success has been very clear.
He said this has been evident in the state’s dominance of Nigerian cricket’s age-grade cadre.
“Edo is number one in Nigeria’s under-15 and under-17 cricket. At the last under-15 games in Ilorin, Edo won four gold medals, two each in the male and female categories.
“The same goes for the National Youth Games where Edo won gold in the male and female events.
“These results that you are seeing today are the fallout of the maiden coaching clinic held in 2016.
“The discoveries we made from that clinic are the ones dominating the sport now, not only in the state but the country at large, and you now have some of them already playing at the national level,” Ibodeme stated.
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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