Sports

Registration Opens For Maiden Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon

Published

5 years ago

May 12, 2021

Editor

Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon has commenced registration for the maiden edition of the half marathon, 10km race, and 5km race taking place in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state.

In a statement issued by the Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon media Sulaiman Pooja reveal that the Half Marathon, organized by Heritage Group and greatly supported by the Ogun state government will hold on 17th July, 2021.

According to the statement, “We are calling on all professional runners, health and fitness enthusiasts and fun runners to register for the Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon, the Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon promises to be a fantastic experience for all participants,” said Mr. Bukola Olopade, the Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the race consultants.

He added that “We have put all precautions in place to ensure that the half marathon is COVID 19 complaint, this is the reason why we are only allowing 500 runners for the 10KM, 5KM categories while the Half Marathon will have 300 Runners including Elite Runners.

“The Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon will bring spotlight on Ijebu as an international city that has a lifestyle of physical activity and health consciousness. Marathons and road races are a veritable tool for the empowerment of young people in communities, at Nilayo, we are positive that this event will greatly impact the people of Ijebu Ode.

That is why we are calling on all Ijebu sons and daughters to participate and support the Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon.”

Interested participants can register for the 5KM, 10KM and Half Marathon via the Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon website, ijebuheritagehalfmarathon.com.

Virtual participants can also register for the marathon via the Finerge App available on Appstore and Google Play.

The race will start at School of Health Technology, Ilese Road and Finish at Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium.

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Sports

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

Published

3 hours 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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