Sports

Naija Ratels Paulina Ali Reveals Key Moments On Her Path To Becoming Captain.

Published

4 years ago

May 4, 2021

Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship side Naija Ratels Captain Paulina Ali has shown real character as the leader of the team ever since she was made captain over two years ago.

The charismatic defender recently revealed how she started the round leather game as a kid and how her parents never supported her in the beginning.

The young player believes that she has grown as a leader and player in Naija Ratels and owes the club alot of responsibilities, reasons why she never left the club, despite receiving offers from some of the biggest teams in the NWFL Premiership.

“For me, Football is the only thing that makes me happy. Football is life and am glad I can do what I love doing here at Naija Ratels.

“I started out with volleyball and was very good at it, until one of my teachers at Padopads Secondary School, Makurdi convinced me to start playing soccer, probably because of my height. I fell in love with the game afterwards and never looked back.

“Just like many young women footballers, my parents never supported me playing football. My mum was always against it and punish me at times. But I was determined and wanted to achieve something great with the game and that pushed me to be where I am today, even though I know i still have a long way to go.

“I must confess that I have improved tremendously, both as a person and a player under Naija Ratels and we all have special love for the club and President, Barrister Paul Edeh, who stands as a father figure to all of us.

“We owe the club and the President alot and that’s why we are so dedicated and determined to always win all our games.

On being Captain of a Championship team at a very young age, Paulina said it has been tasking, but yet rewarding.

“Being a leader means you have to be always ready to lay down good examples. It has been tasking, but yet very rewarding. It has made me grow positively as a person and see life in a different perspective. It also makes me work harder on the pitch, because I always want to win games and excel in everything I do and this is the same mentality I pass on to every member of the team.”

“I have told the girls that they need to do something extra- ordinary when the Championship season starts. We know our aim and our ability as dedicated and hardworking players will always stand out and work for us. We are focused and only aiming at setting a great record.” She concluded.

Naija Ratels will be playing in the NWFL Championship season later this year and will be aiming at gaining promotion to the elite league at their first trial.

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Sports

PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon Earns World Athletics Label

Published

2 days ago

October 29, 2025

The Gleamer

Nigeria’s foremost Sports Company, Nilayo Sports Management Limited (NSML) has announced the second edition of the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon, set to light up Nigeria’s capital city on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

With the theme “Steady Strides,” this year’s race captures the measured rhythm and determined pace that define world-class long-distance running, a reflection of the steady progress and ambitious vision shaping the marathon’s evolution into a global platinum-labelled event.

In a historic milestone for Nigerian sports, the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon has been officially awarded the prestigious World Athletics Label for its second edition, a distinction achieved in record time. This remarkable feat makes it the first marathon globally to earn the label so swiftly, underscoring both the organizational excellence of NSML and the dynamic rise of PremiumTrust Bank, currently celebrated as Nigeria’s fastest-growing commercial bank.

The 2025 edition is expected to attract elite international athletes, top local runners, and marathon enthusiasts from around the world, alongside officials from World Athletics who will oversee the competition.

Speaking on the announcement, Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Yetunde Olopade, expressed excitement about the unique partnership with PremiumTrust Bank.

“This second edition is fundamentally unique because it represents the first-ever true super-partnership on such a dynamic sports property in our nation and arguably, globally. PremiumTrust Bank is not just a sponsor but the sole partner anchoring the establishment, organization, and consolidation of a global marathon in Nigeria’s capital city.

” We are proud and grateful for the bank’s visionary leadership, which not only recognized the immense potential of the first edition but is now single-handedly driving the race toward international acclaim.”

Managing Director of PremiumTrust Bank, Dr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim (CON) emphasized the shared values underpinning the partnership.

“PremiumTrust Bank is built on the philosophy of rapid, impactful, and sustainable growth, and the theme of this year’s marathon perfectly reflects our operational ethos.”

“Attaining World Athletics Label status in just the second year validates that our investment is yielding world-class outcomes. We are deeply proud to be the sole partner building this monumental legacy, reinforcing our commitment to sports development, community wellbeing, excellence, and platforms where champions are made.”

The PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon 2025 promises to be a spectacular celebration of endurance, athleticism, and community spirit, further strengthening Abuja’s status on the global racing calendar.

Registration for participants is currently open as it promises to be another marathon spectacle on the 6th of December 2025.

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