Sports

Elegbeleye tasks NPFL Clubs to Scout for Players at NDSF

Published

7 months ago

March 4, 2025

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Clubs have been pointed in the direction of the forthcoming Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) as an organic scouting ground for players.
Hon.Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman offered the tip while endorsing the festival scheduled to hold from April 1-8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The former Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) obviously has the pedigree to speak on the benefits of multi-sports events like the festival having supretended the participation of Nigeria in Commonwealth Games and the Winter Olympics where the country made good medals returns

He is specifically excited by the festival Ambassadors initiative, which he said would feed the aspirational hunger of budding athletes.

The likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Blessing Oborodudu, Victor Ikpeba and Enefiok Udo-Obong have been appointed Festival Ambassadors. There are also Emmanuel Amunike, Tamunosiki Atorudibo, Patience Igbiti, Seun Ogunkoya and Efioanwan Ekpo.

“The organizers could not have done better than to go for those who have made the nation proud in major international competitions like the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and other various World Championships as Ambassadors of the Nigeria Delta Sports Festival.”

“The goals of Kanu, Ikpeba and Amunike were crucial in getting Nigeria an important gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games just as our anchor, Enee ran the race of his life which resulted in Nigeria securing a gold medal in 4 x 400m in Australia, four years later.

“Blessing Oborodudu’s heroics on the mat culminated in a much needed Olympics silver medal while two-time African Athletics Championship winner Seun Ogunkoya’s record in 100m remains intact since 1998”, Elegbeleye stated to support the choice of the chosen sports persons.

Supporting the inclusion of Paralympic athlete and coach, Patience Igbiti who clinched medals in consecutive Olympic Games, Elegbeleye remarked that”Patience’s consistency in Powerlifting got her Olympic Games medals in 2004 and 2008 before becoming a coach of repute.”

An indigene of Ondo State, one of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) mandate states, Elegbeleye said he is proud to be part of the region that has blazed the trail in regional games as a trigger for grassroots sports development.

The festival Ambassadors will be unveiled at a ceremony in Owerri, Imo State on Friday, March 7 and over 3000 athletes and 600 coaches from nine states would be in Uyo to compete for medals in 17 sports.

Share on Facebook

Sports

Team Nigeria Jets to Cairo for 11th World Para Powerlifting Championships

Published

5 hours ago

October 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Excitement is high as Team Nigeria’s para powerlifting contingent departed Nigeria on Tuesday, October 7, for the 11th World Para Powerlifting Championships set to take place in Cairo, Egypt, from October 9 to 18, 2025.

The milestone event marks the first-ever World Championships to be hosted on African soil, symbolizing a new era for the sport on the continent.

The first batch of Team Nigeria athletes left the country on Tuesday amid cheers and well-wishes from officials, fans, and supporters.

The second batch of the contingent is scheduled to depart tomorrow, October 8, from Lagos, completing the full team that will represent the nation at this landmark competition.

Speaking ahead of the departure, officials expressed confidence in the team’s readiness and determination to uphold Nigeria’s longstanding reputation as a force to be reckoned with, in global para powerlifting.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) reaffirmed its full support for the athletes, emphasizing the government’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and excellence in sports.

Share on Facebook