Sports
Athletes Hail AFN Over Payment Of Entitlements
Some track and field ath
letes have expressed gratitude to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for the payment of their outstanding Golden League prize money.
The athletes threatened to boycott the third leg of the league held in Akure on May 10.
The athletes, who made the threat, said they were owed prize money for the two previous editions held in Abuja and Ilorin.
Some of them who spoke with newsmen said the payment would serve as motivation for their participation in the next leg of the league.
Precious Okoronkwo, winner of the long jump at the Abuja leg of the league, said the payment of the money had gladdened her heart.
“I went to Akure with misgivings and bad mood due to persuasion of my coach.
“He urged me to attend but I was gladdened when the prize money was paid after the Akure edition,” she said.
Nkem Eziala, third place winner in the 100m in Abuja and Ilorin events, said that with the payment the athletes would perform better in the next leg.
“With the commencement of the payment, the next league will witness a better performance by the athletes,” Eziala said.
According to the 17-year-old sprinter, the Akure leg witnessed a low turnout of athletes unlike the previous editions because of the outstanding of prize money owed by the federation.
She said that with the payment the athletes would turnout in large numbers for the next competition in Akure on May 26.
“The more the athletes, the better for the league for it will bring about stiff competition which makes for better evaluation of athletes,” Eziala said.
Mercy Abiere, a long jumper said that with the payment, athletes would be more focused to meet the national standard ahead of the All Nigeria Athletics Championships in Calabar in June.
Another jumper, Ruth Usoro, however, tasked the AFN to promptly pay athletes at the end of any competition.
The AFN’s league is organised every two weeks in different states to harness talents for national assignments.
The winner of the first position is to earn N40, 000, second place N30, 000, while the third and fourth positions are to get N20, 000 and N15, 000 respectively.
The fifth placed athlete is to earn N10,000 and the sixth to get N5,000, while the first place winners in relay are to get N30,000, second N25, 000 and third N20,000 respectively.
The next leg of the league which was initially billed to hold in Kaduna will now take place in Akure.
Athletes and official rejected the choice of Kaduna as the host due to the security situation in the state.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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