Local News

Max Verstappen takes dominant win for Red Bull

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen sent out a chilling message to his Formula 1 rivals with a crushing victory in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

He brushed off controversy surrounding his team principal Christian Horner to dominate after a brief challenge at the start from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen led team-mate Sergio Perez home ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Leclerc recovered from dropping to fifth early on to pass Mercedes’ George Russell for fourth in the closing laps.

The weekend in Bahrain had been dominated by Horner, who has been at the centre of a complaint of inappropriate behaviour from a female employee for the last month.

On Wednesday, the day before the on-track action started, Red Bull’s head office announced that the grievance had been dismissed.

An email containing a cache of messages purporting to involve Horner was sent to Formula 1 personnel and media less than 24 hours later.

After qualifying, Verstappen was asked twice whether he had full confidence in Horner as Red Bull team principal, and both times declined to give a definitive reply.

Horner’s wife, the former Spice Girl Horner, flew into Bahrain for the race, as the pair made what appeared to be a studied and calculated appearance for the cameras.

Red Bull’s main shareholder, the Thai businessman Chalerm Yoovidhya, also flew in for the race to offer public support for Horner. Yoovidhya declined to answer BBC Sport’s questions before the race.

Horner was asked before the grand prix by BBC 5 live pit-lane reporter Rosanna Tennant whether the messages were genuine and replied that he “couldn’t comment on messages from an anonymous sender”.

Verstappen, meanwhile, admitted after taking pole that Horner had been “of course a little bit distracted” but said that the controversy was “not our business” and that he was “focused on the performance”. And what a performance it was.

Total dominance from Verstappen

Verstappen went into the race as a strong favourite, after winning a closer-than-expected battle for pole position with Leclerc.

The three-time champion suffered a little wheelspin in the second phase of his start, which allowed the Ferrari driver to challenge on the outside at the first corner.

But Leclerc backed out on the exit and that was the end of the race for victory.

Verstappen pulled away from his pursuers at an average of around 0.8 seconds a lap to take total control of the race on his way to his 55th grand prix victory.

The race was all behind him, as Leclerc struggled in the early laps, frequently locking his front brakes, and coming under pressure from behind.

First Russell passed him, then Perez and Sainz.

Perez closed on Russell but had to wait until after their first pit stops to take second place behind Verstappen on lap 14, Sainz following him through four laps later.

Sainz kept Perez honest, but the Mexican was able to fend off the Spaniard to secure second place and a perfect start to the the season for the world champions.

After the first pit stops, Leclerc’s struggles reduced. He recovered some pace through the second stint, and after his final stop he closed in on Russell to challenge to Mercedes for fourth place.

Leclerc took the position after Russell locked his front brakes into Turn 10 on lap 46, as the Ferrari driver had done regularly when he was struggling in the first stint, and Leclerc was able to slip by along the straight to Turn 11.

McLaren’s Lando Norris was sixth ahead Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took eighth, with the Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll completing the points finishers in ninth and 10th.

Local News

NOC/Jigawa State Sports Council host Sports Administration Course in Dutse

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), in collaboration with the Jigawa State Sports Council, will organise a Sports Administration Course for key stakeholders in the sports sector.

The course will be held from April 23 to April 25, 2025, at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, Jigawa State.

The participants are expected to arrive on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, and depart on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

The Sports Administration Course is an introductory training programme open to elected officials and paid NO staff members, the National Federations (NFs), club managers, physical education teachers, sports journalists, and other individuals or organisations responsible for developing sports.

The course has been designed using a framework and manual provided by Olympic Solidarity, the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) educational arm.

The objective is to reach a broad audience and share insights about the Olympic Movement, the Olympic Games, and sports organisation management.

Participants will gain knowledge of the Olympic values, the principles of good governance, and effective organisational management, all of which aim to enhance the support provided to athletes.

This initiative, part of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) global educational programmes through Olympic Solidarity and the NOC, would seek to empower sports administrators with essential tools and knowledge to drive development and excellence within their organisations.

The 2025 edition specifically targets stakeholders from State Sports Councils/Commissions and Institutions of higher learning.

The programme will be delivered on-site and virtually and facilitated by two IOC-certified National Course Directors, Mr Emmanuel Nweri and Dr (Mrs) Esther Oluwatoyin Aluko—with support from Mrs Chidobi Deborah, the NOC Project Officer, and other distinguished speakers, including:

* Prof. Fasan Clement, Programme Director, IOC Advanced Sports Management Course

* Dr Akin Amao, Former Chairman/Member of NOC Medical & Scientific Commission

* Prof. Dominic Leah Funmilayo, University of Ilorin

* Prof. Abiodun Moronfolu, Lagos State University

* Mr Oyebode Oluseyi, CEO, Dynaspro Sports Academy

*Dean, School of Physical and Health Education & Special Education,
Edo State College of Education, Afuze Campus, Edo State. – Dr.Oyahkire Rasheed

The course will be officially declared open by the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel in the company of Hon. Sagir Musa Ahmed, the Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports, and Culture, Jigawa State.

Local News

U-13 JOF Kids Cup: Sponsor Retains N1.925k Prize Monies For Winners, As 6th Edition Final Holds 27 April In Lagos

BY ADELU PRAISE DEBORAH

Just as it did for the 2024 edition, the sponsor of the annual U-13 JOF Kids Cup Tournament, JOF Nigeria Limited, has announced the sum of N1,925,000 as prize monies to be given to winners in the 6th edition of the grassroots soccer championship which final will hold on Sunday 27 April, 2025.

Speaking earlier on Thursday at the corporate headquarters of JOF Nigeria Limited on Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos southwest Nigeria, Mr Adeyinka Adetunji, Director of Strategic Support Services of the company told a media conference that the firm has set a very good standard for the grassroots football tourney last year with handsome rewards for excellence for the winners coupled with an exciting and glamorous final ceremony held at the University of Lagos (Unilag) Sports Centre in Akoka, Lagos, hence any package for the winners this year of the 6th edition must not be low.

Adetunji therefore unveiled the sum of N250,000 for the fourth-place winners. N350,000 will go to the third place, while the second-place winners will pocket the sum of N500,000.

“The winners of the 6th edition of U-13 JOF Kids Cup will go home with the sum of N750,000. We also monetary rewards for individual awards such as the Best Goalkeeper (N25,000), Highest Goal Scorer (N25,000) and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament who will pocket the sum of N25,000,” Adetunji said.

The JOF Nigeria Limited’s manager also announced the 27 April 2025 date for the final ceremony scheduled at the Unilag Sports Centre in Akoka, Yaba. He also disclosed that of the 64 teams that started the 6th edition on 16 February 2025, four teams would be on display during the final ceremony.

He said: “Strong Dove of Orile will trade tackles against 1st Class FC of Lagos Island for the third-place prize, while the final match will be a titanic battle between B. Unit Boys of Mainland and Versity Boys of Lagos Island.”

Some of the kids participating in the U-13 JOF Kids Cup

Adetunji applauded the support the tournament has been receiving from the sporting press since the first edition, just as he also commended various private companies which have been given services and product support to the tournament.

“This support has kept us going to give these kids a future in the round leather game. We are so much grateful. I want to assure you that the final ceremony this year will be more glamorous than what we saw last year,” Adetunji said.

The U-13 JOF Kids Cup Tournament is organised by the Lagos State Grassroots Football Association and sponsored by JOF Nigeria Limited, a wholly indigenous Nigerian company, which prides itself in the development of talent of the Nigerian youth.

Local News

NDSF: Igali Hails Champions Team Bayelsa

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Honourable Daniel Igali, has praised Team Bayelsa for their exceptional triumph at the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival, held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital — where they emerged overall champions, finishing ahead of Delta and Edo States.

In a statement personally signed on behalf of the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, Igali lauded the team’s fierce determination and excellence, which led to an impressive haul of 86 medals — 42 gold, 29 silver, and 15 bronze.

“Our athletes ran, swam, wrestled, paddled, and fought their way into history,” Igali declared. “From the thunder on the tracks to the brilliance on the mats and in the water, Bayelsa’s sons and daughters showcased the new, unstoppable spirit of our state — proud, prepared, and poised for greatness.”

“On behalf of His Excellency Governor Douye Diri, I say welcome home, champions! Thank you for making Bayelsa the pride of the Niger Delta at this historic maiden edition of the festival. You stood tall at the centre of a region redefining its future — a future beyond oil, driven by talent, hard work, and excellence.”

He continued: “To the Director of Sports, Braveman Wodi, our dedicated coaches, technical staff, secretaries, media team, and every single athlete who gave their all — you have etched your names into gold. We celebrate you. You have made us proud.”

Igali, however, reminded the team to stay grounded and focused as the journey continues: “While we revel in this remarkable achievement, our eyes must now turn to the bigger challenge ahead — the National Sports Festival, Gateway 2025, in Ogun State. It’s time to rest, recover, and prepare to raise the bar once again.”

Delta and Edo States finished second and third respectively, with Delta securing 41 gold, 26 silver, and 32 bronze medals, while Edo claimed 23 gold, 35 silver, and 31 bronze medals.

Bayelsa has spoken — and the message is clear: this is only the beginning.