Sports
Legend FC Emerges winner of Inagural ABL Unity Football Tournament in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The Legend Football Club of Abuja has emerged champion of the maiden edition of the Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi Football Unity Tournament on Saturday in Abuja, after a 2-1 victory against their counterpart Maracana FC of FCT.
The final match which was decided at the Main bowl of Moshood Abiola National Stadium saw the highly contested game ended 2-1 after regulation time in favour of the Legend boys.
Earlier in the third place, the Kicker FC edged N-Youth Sports FC 5-4 on penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw at the regulation time to picked the bronze medal in grand style.
The three weeks explosive encounter see the champions smiled home with N3.5millions while the runner-up won N2 million as the third position pocketed N1 million.
ABL FCT Unity football championship is aimed to foster unity and discover grassroot talents for the national teams.
The tournament, ABL FCT Unity football championship, started on July 8th of July and climax on Saturday 29th July 2023 with over 1,200 young footballers, with 80 teams in the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) competed for honours.
The diginitaries at occasion was the representative of the federal government and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Alhaji Abubarkar Ismaila, The Onah of Abaji, His royal Majesty, Alh. (Dr) Adamu Baba Yunusa the Chairman of Nigeria Premier Football League, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, the founder of Human Right Radio Ordinary Ahmed ISSA amongst others.
Speaking at the event, the initiator of ABL unity football championship and elated Mrs Laniyi said: “This initiative, was born out of her passion to promote peace, Unity and cohesion among the young Nigerians.
An seasoned entrepreneur, a benevolent, Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi whose her different intitiaves in the country has impacted and empower many women and the girl child as well as People Living with Disabilities in the country assured that she will leave no stoned unturned to ensure she put more smiles on the faces of Many Nigerians.
Sports
SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism
By Joel Ajayi
The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, has urged sports journalists to eliminate gender stereotypes and bias in their reports to promote fairness, inclusion and greater visibility for women in sports.
Benjamin made the call on Monday in Abuja while delivering a presentation titled “Gender-Sensitive Journalism: Removing Gender Stereotypes and Bias in Sports Reporting” at the Annual Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for Journalists, organised by the Women Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
He said sports journalists play a critical role in shaping public opinion, influencing athletes’ visibility and determining which achievements receive recognition, sponsorship and investment.
According to him, the way the media reports women in sports can either reinforce existing barriers or help dismantle them.
Benjamin explained that gender-sensitive journalism requires fairness, accuracy, equality and inclusion, stressing that it does not mean giving female athletes favourable coverage or shielding them from legitimate criticism.
He identified common forms of bias in sports reporting, including giving men’s competitions greater prominence, focusing on female athletes’ appearance rather than performance, defining women by their marital or family status, and questioning their competence in leadership positions.
The SWAN president urged journalists to adopt respectful language, apply consistent professional standards and extend coverage beyond national teams to domestic leagues, grassroots competitions, female coaches, referees and sports administrators.
Using Nigeria’s sporting landscape as an example, he said the achievements of the Super Falcons deserved sustained analysis beyond match results, including discussions on investment, player development, professional leagues and grassroots structures.
He also noted that digital platforms offered opportunities to expand coverage of women’s sports but warned journalists against sensationalism, online harassment and sexist commentary.
Benjamin proposed seven measures, including gender-sensitive editorial guidelines, regular coverage audits, diversified sources, professional development, stronger grassroots reporting and measurable progress.
He called on SWAN to collaborate with the NOC, sports federations, leagues and clubs to improve access to information and strengthen women’s visibility in sports.
He urged journalists to ensure that athletes are judged by their performances and achievements rather than gender stereotypes.
“Gender-sensitive journalism must be fair, not favourable,” he said, emphasising that responsibility for change rests with reporters, editors, broadcasters, photographers and digital publishers.
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