Sports

Ladele rallies support for new Paralympic Committee of Nigeria leadership

Published

3 years ago

June 1, 2023

The President of the Nigeria Para-Volley Federation, Kayode Ladele has called on para-federation presidents in Nigeria to rally around the new Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) under the leadership of Sunday Odebode.

While pledging his unalloyed commitment to para sports in Nigeria in his congratulatory message to the board, Ladele said stakeholders’ support and objective criticism when necessary is key to the success of the board tasked with overseeing the para-federations for the next four years.

Ladele who lost out to the incumbent, Suleiman Isah in the race for the Secretary-General position during the electoral congress held in Asaba, Delta state reaffirmed his unwavering resolve to contribute his quota to the development of para-sports and the welfare of its athletes directly through his federation and partnership with other federations.

“Let me first congratulate the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria executive for their success at the polls. Their emergence is obviously the wish of key stakeholders in the Paralympics movement, and we are excited about the next four years.”

According to the NPVF boss, elections are over, and it is time for all stakeholders and federation presidents to collaborate with the new PCN board to succeed for the next four years.

“The PCN board cannot do much without the support of key stakeholders. In the recent history of Team Nigeria at multi-sports competitions such as the African Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics, para-athletes have remained the shining light due to athletes’ resilience and the commitment of the federations to succeed. We must continue on this trajectory.”

Since Ladele emerged as president of Nigeria ParaVolley Federation in 2022, the federation has organised the West Africa Sitting Volleyball Championship, organised international training for coaches and referees, and masterminded the qualification of the national teams for the African Games and the World Paravolley World Cup all holding in 2023.

Later this month, Nigeria will participate in the West African versus South African para volleyball competition which serves as preparation for the African Games billed for Ghana.

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Sports

Nigerian Goalkeeper James Honoured with Spot in Finland’s Team of the Season

Published

32 mins ago

October 27, 2026

The Gleamer

Ibrahim Lawal

Nigeria’s Super Eagles goalkeeper Samuel Friday James has earned recognition among the best-performing players in Finland following his impressive displays for SJK Akatemia in the 2026 season.

The 20-year-old shot-stopper ranks second among the league’s selected best-performing XI, with an average rating of 7.61, according to statistics published by Totori News.

James’ performances have stood out despite the challenging campaign faced by his club, with his consistency between the posts making him one of the bright spots in the team.

The former Mavlon FC goalkeeper has recorded four clean sheets in Finland’s Ykkösliiga this season, while his shot-stopping ability has further underlined his growing reputation in European football.

According to available season statistics from FootyStats, James has made 20 league appearances, playing 1,800 minutes. He has conceded 32 goals and made 75 saves from 109 shots faced, giving him a save percentage of approximately 68.8 per cent.

His four clean sheets account for 20 per cent of his league appearances, demonstrating his ability to keep opponents at bay despite the defensive challenges confronting his team.

James has also shown composure and resilience in difficult matches, including his recent international outing for Nigeria against Russia, where he made his senior Super Eagles appearance in the 3-3 friendly draw on October 6.

Standing at 1.95 metres, the young goalkeeper possesses the physical attributes required for the modern game, combining his reach with quick reactions and an increasingly valuable experience of European football.

His rise has been particularly encouraging following his move from Lagos-based Mavlon FC to Finland in 2025. Since then, he has continued to develop through regular competitive football and has attracted attention for his performances.

James’ latest statistical recognition of 7.55 rating in the team of the season adds to his growing profile as Nigeria continues to assess goalkeeping options for the future.

At 20, the goalkeeper will be hoping to build on his progress in Finland and establish himself as a regular contender for the Super Eagles, while continuing to improve his performances at club level.

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