Sports
…Celebrates Volleyball Gold
Team Rivers’ women’s volleyball squad on Wednesday successfully defended its gold medal at the ongoing National Sports Festival, Eko 2012, overwhelming their Delta state counterpart three sets to nil at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Complex.
The team, who promised to make up for the failure of the men’s team to reach the final of the event, was in an imperious mood from the first minute of the titanic encounter dubbed ‘clash of the Niger Deltans ‘
After a relatively close exchanges in the first set, which Rivers won 25 points to 17, Team Rivers stepped up its game to dominate the following two sets 25-12 and 25-16 to clinch the gold medal.
The atmosphere before, during and after the match went a long way to underline the fierce rivalry between the two contending states not only in volleyball, but in sporting competitions.
Speaking, moments after the match, Rivers state volleyball Head coach, Opakiriba Harry said he was elated, despite not being satisfied, to secure the gold medal after the disappointment of missing the mark in the men’s event.
According to him, his desire was to stop Team Delta from adding a gold medal from volleyball to their haul at the festival.”My greatest joy is playing Delta in the final, it was better to play Delta in the final than the hosts because I know what they did to my male team in the semi final, which we did not deserve to lose. From onset, I knew we are going to beat Delta 3-0 and I am relieved that we showed our class. Team Delta met a better team in us,” said Opakiriba.
Later in the day,Lagos male team overcame their Ondo counterparts three sets to two in a contest tagged ‘battle of the south west’. It was a really tight contest that went all the way to the fifth decisive set. Lagos began by taking the first set 25-17, but Ondo rallied to two to one set up, winning sets two and three 28-26 and29-27, respectively.
However, Lagos turned the table in the fourth and fifth sets with 28-26 and 15-11 points to claim the gold.
Earlier, Rivers male team consoled themselves with the bronze medal courtesy of a three sets to nil thrashing of Imo state, while Lagos female team also beat Gombe 3-0 to clinch bronze.
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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