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Enyimba Players Continue to React to Extraordinary 8th NPFL Glory

Published

6 years ago

June 15, 2019

After helping Enyimba Football Club to a historic eighth league title on Wednesday, players of the club have been speaking on the record-setting feat.

REUBEN BALA: WINNING THE LEAGUE IS A MIRACLE

“Winning the league for the second time is just like a miracle for me because it’s not easy for a player to win the league with different teams. This winning is a special one and a miraculous one for me. I could remember that after our match (against Akwa United), while we were in the dressing room my uncle, that’s Ezekiel Bala (former Golden Eaglets captain), called me from Norway and said he was proud of me.

“He was the one that pushed me into football. He was the one that had been encouraging me with kits.

“Even my family, after the match my dad called me because he watched the match in our family house. Everybody was there praying for me, cheering me. It was something that I was very happy about because my family sat down together and watched me. It’s something good.”

CHUKWUKA ONUWA: PEOPLE WROTE US OFF

“My first statement coming to the club was to help the club gain continental glory back and bring back the glory days of Enyimba which God actually brought it back for us.

“Since we came third in the league (first round) people started writing us off. But with the togetherness of the team, the management and even the help of the government. The motivation, they never owed us anything.

STEPHEN MANYO: I DIDN’T SEE IT COMING SO SOON

“My decision to join Enyimba was perfect. Coming here I never knew what the future would hold for me and coming to a big side for the first time I knew there would be many challenges.

“I never saw it coming that this particular season I would become a champion. I would say I give God all the glory and I know and believe that as it has started coming like this more are to come.”

BENJAMIN FRANCIS: IT IS A THING OF JOY

“I have won the FA Cup back to back when I was with Heartland. Concerning the league, I’ve come second when I was with Nasarawa United but I’ve been praying and wishing that one day I will win the league and thank God I’ve won it now with Enyimba so I’m very grateful and excited about it.

“It’s a thing of joy because this is what I’ve been praying for. Winning the league is higher than the FA Cup.

“The fans are very wonderful people because they risk their lives. Anywhere we are going they always come there with their support and when they start to support you, you’ll just feel at home. You’ll not even feel that you’re playing away. So it motivates us to do more in the pitch of play.”

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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