Sports
Commissioner Assures Rivers Angels Of Good Welfare Package
The Rivers State Commissioner of Sports, Hon Christopher Green, has assured players of Rivers Angels Football Club of better and improved welfare package under his administration.
Hon Green made this known when he paid a visit to the team at their camp in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He urged them to ensure that they gave their best in the upcoming Nigeria Women Football League Premiership season as that would spur him to fulfil his promises to the team.
“I am here to assure you all that starting from today, you will see improvements in your welfare, but for this to happen, you have to work harder than you have been doing. The team Rivers Angels is a brand on its own and should always be at the top and not the bottom.
“It is the break of a new dawn and things will be done differently going forward. You failed to win the NWFL title last season but this coming season, you are going to win it and go back to represent the country.
“I also wish to commend my predecessor, Honorable Boma Iyaye, he did well in handling the affairs of the Ministry because it is not an easy job to start with,” said Green.
The Commissioner also tasked the team’s head coach, Edwin Okon, to go into the transfer market and get the best players he can get ahead of the 2022/2023 NWFL Premiership season.
“Get me the best in the country; I have given you everything you need so you have to go out there to get the best that we can have. I do not like to lose so you must give me your all,” he continued.
“If our rivals are paying 10,000 to a player, I will pay 20,000. I want you to get good results this season because I do not like losing. Rivers Angels is not a dumping ground for players that are not good enough. We only go for the best in the country.
“Before now, we were known as the best female team, I want that to continue in my administration. This team will continue to be the best and also produce the best players in Africa.
“My firm promise to you all today is that I will provide all your needs through the Executive Governor of the State. The same budget used for the boys will be applied to the girls. Yours is to get the result,” added Green.
In her reaction, Rivers Angels General Manager, Matilda Otuene-Onyiloha assured the Commissioner that her crew will start work immediately to ensure that the best legs are recruited for the team.
“You can see that smiles are beginning to come back to the faces of the girls, so I want to assure you that as you have given us your mandate, myself and the technical crew will go straight to work immediately and before next week, we will get the best of the legs in camp,” said Matilda
The 2022/2023 Nigeria Women Football League Premiership season is expected to commence on September 14 with Rivers Angels’ first game against reigning champions, Bayelsa Queens, in Yenagoa.
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.