Sports
Project Consultants Announce 40 Elite Runners for Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon
Project Consultants Announce 40 Elite
Runners for Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon
Nilayo Sports Management Limited, project consultants on Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon has announced a field of 40 elite runners for the Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon.
Mr. Bukola Olopade, the Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited said “We have selected a strong field of elite runners from the World Athletics pool and we are anticipating a very competitive performance during the Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon.
“The first edition of the Half Marathon will definitely be a memorable one because as project consultants, Nilayo is bringing all the expertise and excellence we are known for to the race.”
Kenya’s Bernard Sang who came first at the 2020 Istanbul Marathon tops the list. Sang will look to top his Personal Best for Half Marathons which stands at 1:00:57.
Kenya’s Hosea Chirchir Kiplimo, Rhonzas Lokitam Kilimo, Eliud Mewangi, Sammy Nyokaye, John Muriuri Mburi, William Amponsah, Titus Kipruto Kibiego, and Paul Koech are on the men’s list.
Uganda’s Ezekiel Chepkoromk with a Personal Best of 01:01:46 and Azerbaijan’s Desta Fitsun Weldu are also listed.
For the women’s list, Shila Jepkosgei who is a World Athletics gold-label runner with a Personal Best of 01:10:58 tops the list. Ghana’s Juliana Lariba Sakat, Kenya’s Gladys Jepkemoi Chemweno, Caern Jebet Maiyo, Ruth Karanja, Susy Chebet Chemaimak, Hannah Wanjiru Gatheru are also listed.
Uganda’s Racheal Zena Chebet with a Personal Best of 01:10:13 and Bahrain’s Damaris Muthee Mutua with a Personal Best of 01:10:13 will also be running in Ijebu.
The Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon is scheduled for the 17th of July, 2021. The Half Marathon features a 21KM Half Marathon, 10KM, and 5KM race. The route starts from Tunde Debasco Road, Ejirin, and ends at Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu Ode.
The Half Marathon is organized by the prestigious Heritage Group and is greatly supported by Ogun State Government.
Aron Nigeria Limited and Rite Foods are sponsors of the Half Marathon
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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