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Super Bowl Win Sees Mailata Complete ‘Crazy Journey’

Super Bowl Win Sees Mailata Complete 'Crazy Journey'

The Philadelphia Eagles were still celebrating as Jordan Mailata headed into a media room deep inside the Superdome.

As the hulking offensive lineman lumbered on to a chair, one of his compatriots draped an Australian flag around his shoulders.

The Kansas City Chiefs were hoping to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls in New Orleans.

Instead it was Mailata who made NFL history. He grew up playing rugby league and had not played a single snap when the Eagles drafted him in 2018.

Now he has played in two Super Bowls and this time he became the first Australian to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

It was the latest chapter in what his mentor this week called “the greatest story in football”.

Mailata grew up playing rugby league and as he was coming through the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ academy, he had to take some second jobs to pay the bills.

At different times he worked in stage-building, demolition, scaffolding and at Woolworths, as well as training with the Rabbitohs.

Asked what he learned from that, Mailata said: “That it sucked. The routine of it all was pretty gruesome, waking up at 4:30 in the morning, having to work and then go to training.

“Probably the hardest part of it was just trying to get into that routine and I think it kind of helped a lot with my transition [to the NFL].”

Mailata was playing for the Rabbitohs’ Under-20s, but there were concerns over his conditioning. Then he received surely the best advice he’s ever had: “Why don’t you play a sport that appreciates your size?”

At 6ft 8in and 365lb (166kg), that sport was American football and he joined the NFL’s fledgling International Player Pathway programme in 2018.

Former English rugby player Christian Scotland-Williamson was also on that year’s intake for the intensive 10-week training programme.

“His agility and speed for a person of his size, who hadn’t grown into his full frame yet, it was so impressive,” he said.

Cancelled golf trip was ‘greatest decision I ever made’
The IPP is designed to prepare NFL hopefuls for a shot at being selected in the NFL draft, giving them a crash course in American football and a platform to showcase their skills to NFL scouts.

Word spread to Eagles executive Howie Roseman, who convinced Jeff Stoutland, Philly’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator, to cancel a golf trip to go check him out.

“I didn’t know want to expect,” Stoutland told BBC Sport. “I was told he was a rugby player, so I was like ‘what am I doing’.

“It was the greatest decision I ever made – other than marrying my wife.

“I put on these drills and all of a sudden, this giant guy was just flying through the cones.

“I was like ‘God’, but I didn’t show that expression at the time because there was another team there and I didn’t want them to see my passion for him, I wanted to downplay it.

“And boy oh boy, I got out of that workout and called Howie and said ‘let me get my hands on this guy’.”

A few weeks later, Scotland-Williamson attended the 2018 draft with Mailata. He was so convinced that Mailata’s name would be called that he bought him a new outfit so he’d look good on TV.

The Eagles selected Mailata, who was aged 20, with the 233rd pick.

Mailata spent two seasons on Philadelphia’s practice squad, continuing his development.

“It was a grind for a few years,” said Stoutland. “Then all of a sudden one day, I mean it, the light came on and he became confident in his knowledge. Every year he just went to a new level.”

Mailata played his first game in 2020 and has become one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles, helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl in 2023, where they were beaten by the Chiefs.

Last year he signed a three-year contract extension worth $66m (£53.3m) and is a key part of what was the biggest offensive line in Super Bowl history.

As an offensive tackle, he blocks the opposition’s defensive line to protect quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was Sunday’s Most Valuable Player, and open gaps for Saquon Barkley to run through.

The Eagles running back got enough yards on Sunday to set the all-time record for rushing yards in a season, including the play-offs, at 2,504.

“Saquon always says that he can’t be great without the greatness of others,” said Mailata after Sunday’s game.

“When I hear that I’m like ‘you know what, maybe it is me and not all Saquon, maybe there’s just a small chance’.”

Live primetime games feature player introductions and they state which college they played at. Since Mailata did not follow the traditional path to the NFL, he says ‘Stoutland University’.

And Stoutland believes that Mailata, 27, can get even better, adding “I don’t think there’s a top to this.

“Most players you coach, they’ve played through high school and college, so when they get to this level they’re done, they’re tapped out. But not him.”

Asked if he can believe how far he’s come, Stoutland replied: “It’s the greatest story in football, I mean it.”

Mailata completes ‘crazy’ journey
Current Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde and BBC Sport columnist Phoebe Schecter were on the IPP coaching staff in 2018.

Durde said that much of Mailata’s success is down to “the way he’s held himself in all these different environments” and that “he’s a loud, fun character that’s just got a heart of gold”.

Schecter and Scotland-Williamson, who was a groomsman at Mailata’s wedding in 2023, remember that he was always singing. He’s since appeared on The Masked Singer and he remains that fun-loving guy.

Now he can call himself a Super Bowl champion too. “That sounds crazy,” he told BBC Sport. “I cannot believe I’m here.

“The only thing I was thinking was how long the journey was and how it took everyone to get here.

“It’s funny how life works, my coach is tough and hard on me. I can only relate my success to how he coaches.”

As the only rugby player who has so far made a successful switch to the NFL, he will now be a poster boy for other international players hoping to make it the transition.

“Just give it a go,” he told them. “You can do anything you want if you have belief in yourself and someone who believes in you.”

BBC Sports

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Igali advocates for inclusion of Traditional Wrestling ‘Kuwa’ and Canoeing in Ogun National Sports Festival

Daniel Igali

 

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali, has called on the National Sports Commission and the Main Organising Committee of the National Sports Festival in Ogun State to include traditional wrestling known as “Kuwa” and Canoeing as part of the events for the festival.

Honourable Daniel Igali made the call when he received Bayelsa athletes who represented Nigeria at the recently-concluded 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja which was part of activities lined up to celebrate ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary.

Honourable Igali commended the Bayelsa athletes for yet again, making the country proud after Ebi Biogos 76K and Ebipadei Mughabofa 66K won gold each for Team Nigeria while combining with their teammates to win two silver medals in team events.

Igali, who heaped praises on Nigeria’s abundant talents in every sport called on the National Sports Commission being led by proven sports administrators, Shehu Dikko
and Bukola Olopade to consider including traditional wrestling and canoeing in the events to be competed for, at the Sports Festival coming up in Ogun State.

According to Igali, traditional wrestling is one of the local sports in the country and Africa that connects our cultural heritage. Thus, it deserves to be part of the events for the Nigerian version of the Olympic Games.

Also, the world and Olympic wrestling champion expressed shock at canoeing being excluded from the festival despite successively qualifying for the last two editions of the Olympics.

He described canoeing as one of the potential sports that can win Nigeria medals at the Olympics if properly encouraged and invested in.

While formally receiving the athletes Igali said “On behalf of the Bayelsa State Government, I receive you all with pride, celebrating what you have done. This shows clearly the focus of sports development in Bayelsa.”

“Arising from that, it is a bit of an irony that Nigeria has hosted the whole of West Africa in traditional wrestling, and we don’t have it at the next sports festival in Ogun State. My appeal to the National Sports Commission is that this is one cultural event that is relatable to virtually every culture and tribe in Nigeria,” Igali said.

“Let me also use this opportunity to mention another sport canoeing, this is one sport that Nigeria has a good opportunity to win a medal at the next Olympics if we plan very early. Over the pa8st Olympics, it has qualified athletes who have done very well and need to be encouraged by harnessing its potentials” Igali maintained.

Igali concluded by appreciating the Bayelsa State Government led by Senator Douye Diri for massively encouraging sports development through approval of funds to execute its programmes.

Meanwhile, the Director of Sports Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, who is the overseer and direct principal of the wrestlers, applauded them for representing the state and being good ambassadors of the Ijaw Nation.

Braveman noted that their triumph speaks volumes of the developmental policies of the Prosperity administration of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo

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Glitz, Glamour As 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament Ends

 

The 13th edition of the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament co-hosted between ECOWAS and National Sports Commission ended at the Velodrome MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday with panache. Scintillating, well-choreographed cultural displays and breathtaking traditional wrestling bouts highlighted the glitzy evening.

Senegal emerged overall winners with three gold and one silver while Nigeria (two gold and one silver) and Benin Republic (one silver, one bronze) finished second and third respectively.

Nigeria’s second-place was down to gold medals won by Ebipatei Lienbofa and Ebi Bigos in the women’s 66kg and 76kg respectively, a development which did not go unnoticed by the National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko. While declaring the tournament closed, Mallam Dikko noted the fact that female athletes had contributed immensely to the nation’s past sporting exploits and had taken that trend to the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament.

He said, “Today is women’s day and we are proud as a Commission and, indeed the entire country, of the doggedness and resilience of our female wrestlers in this tournament. Over the years, the women have always come through for our sports in winning medals and have done the same at this tournament. We salute our sports women. Where could we have been without them.”

He emphasized that the performance of those female wrestlers is a clear testament to the Renewed Hope Agenda and shared prosperity vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in sports.

The NSC Chairman further assured of a well sustained collaboration with all stakeholders in every aspect of sports adding particularly buttressing the preparedness of the National Sports Commission to synergize with the Ministry of Youth Development in engaging the youths positively through sports.

“Mr President has given us a clear directive that there should be proper collaboration within agencies of government which has to do with developing youths, culture, women and sports. We will put our energy together so as to get our youths productively engaged in sports, so that we can have that feel-good factor of doing sport and also staying healthy as well as earning revenues. You can see the money the people participating in the tournament are earning. We can really empower our youths through sports”, he pointed out.

He hinted that Saudi Arabia had expressed interest in investing in Nigeria’s sport, particularly its traditional sports, which according to him, underscores the essence of collaboration.

An elated Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande was thrilled with the abundance of sporting talents in the country and promised to continue to engage foster collaboration between his ministry and NSC to ensure that Nigerian youths realized their sporting potentials.

“I am so proud to associate with the Chairman of NSC, let me assure you that we are determined to work together in making sure that we provide a pathway for our youths through different sporting activities as well as our domestic sports competitions for the benefit of all”, he said.

In her remarks, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs ECOWAS Commission, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, represented by Amb. Francis Chuks Njoaguani, thanked Nigerian government for hosting the tournament and urged all participants to carry forward the values of unity, resilience, and excellence that they all celebrated in the three days impactful event.

The highpoint of the tournament was the award of medals, trophies and cash prizes. As the overall winners, Senegal smiled home with $10,000, followed by Nigeria with the sum of $6,000, while third-placed Benin pocketed $3,000.

The DG of NSC Hon Bukula Olapade in his closing remarks thanked all participanting countries and the LOC of the championship for a well-organized competition. He assured of NSC’s desire to continue to promote and host international tournaments in its drive to advance all sports in line with the objectives of the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigerian Sports (RHINSE) framework.

Also present was former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District Sen. Shehu Sani.

FINAL RESULTS

A- TEAM CATEGORY
1. SÉNÉGAL
2. NIGÉRIA
3. BÉNIN
4. GUINÉE

B- WEIGHT CATEGORY

– 66KG (WOMEN)
1. EBIPATEI LIENBOFA ( NIGÉRIA)
2. SAFIETOU GOUDIABY (SÉNÉGAL)
3. BAKOYOKO CÉLINE JOSEE ( COTE D’ IVOIRE)
4. MARIAMA FOULA KABA ( GUINÉE)

– 76KG (WOMEN)
1. EBI BIGOS (NIGERIA)
2. YOUIN AMY (COTE D’ IVOIRE)
3. BODJRENOU ROSINE (BENIN)
4. KOUMBA DIOUMA SOW (GUINÉE)

– 86 KG (MEN)
1. SINY SEMBENE (SÉNÉGAL)
2. BONI ILIASSOU (BÉNIN)
3. MUSA ABDALAHI (NIGERIA)
4. LAGO GUY ALAIN

– 100KG (MEN)
1. GORA NIANG (SÉNÉGAL)
2. CAETANO ANTONIO (GUINÉE BISSAU)
3. BADARO ESSO (TOGO)
4. YACOUBOU SADATH (BENIN)

– 120 KG (MEN)
1. NGAGNE SENE (SÉNÉGAL)
2. GINO N’TCHALAH (GUINÉE BISSAU)
3. ISSAH FOUSSEINI (GHANA)
4. INOUSSA ISLAM DINE (BENIN)

 

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CSED Takes Netball ‘Project 2027’ Training To Port Harcourt

 

 

One of Nigeria’s leading sports for change NGO, CSED (Community Sport and Educational Development) Initiative recently, (26 and 27 February 2025) held a two-day seminar on netball for P.E. Teachers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 

The training held in collaboration with the Airforce Secondary School, Airforce Base Rumuomasi, Port-Harcourt, was held at the school premises.

This training is part of “Project 2027,” which is CSED Initiative quest to provide Nigerian school children and youths access to learn and play the game of netball in a safe space. Netball is the only sport in the world that is specifically designed for girls and women.

CSED Initiative, sees the game of netball as an important tool that could be used to promote the general health and well-being of the girl child, as well as empower them to blend sport with their academic pursuit.

However, in line with Netball World goal of promoting the inclusivity of the game, two secondary schools in Nigeria, Tare Pet School Yenagoa and C.S.C.S. Itam, currently have boys’ netball teams, alongside their female netball team.

35 participants from various secondary schools including the Nigeria Navy secondary, Army Day Secondary School, private and public secondary schools, in the city, as well as, two Cameroonian refugees who represented the Cameroonian community that are based in Adagom 3, Camp in Ogoja local government area.

The training was facilitated by coaches Edema Fuludu, Funsho Ekundayo and Onome Fuludu. These coaches were supported by Deborah Bakari (a University of Benin Student) who has been playing netball in the past four years in Uhoghua (Benin City).

Some volunteers like Gold Dappa-Wogu, also benefited from this free netball training that uses a training manual that was developed by Ambassador Mary Waya (a Netball Africa certified instructor). The trained netball coaches were provided with free T-shirts that were donated by Lord’s Taverners (a UK based charity).

The newly trained coaches were first taught the importance of safeguarding and safety in the sports environment which was covered by coach Onome Fuludu, a graduate of Guidance and Counselling, who is also a qualified safeguarding practitioner. His presentation focused on the importance of sporting and educational authorities ensuring that students and athletes are supported to take part in sports in a safe environment.

The new netball coaches were also provided with additional access to free online safeguarding training. This was followed by the basics of the game, netball rules, applications of the rules, how to mark a netball court, the different netball positions, as well as the roles that are attached to these positions.

Warming-up, passing the ball, throwing the ball, the restriction of the movement of players in certain parts of the netball court, practicing of how to throw the ball and how to score were also covered. This was then followed by a practice game between the new coaches who were divided into team blue and team purple.

The Commandant of the Airforce Secondary School, Port Harcourt, Wing Commander Nasir Adamu, who was instrumental in bringing CSED Initiative to Port Harcourt, stated that he was very pleased to see an NGO, who has passion for carrying out developmental and empowerment programmes that are targeted at the girl child.

He urged the participants to take advantage of the training and become reliable coaches in a sport that is being revived in Nigeria. He also stated that he will visit the schools to monitor progress and use of the freely donated netball starter packs (a pair of netball rims/nets, finger held whistles, two sets of netball training bibs, and netball balls) to the representatives of the participating schools.

CSED National Coordinator, Edema Fuludu, used the opportunity to inform participants that the game will soon become a National Sports Festival event and urged them to be serious and as enthusiastic, as they have exhibited during the two days training event. The new netball coaches take the number of trained netball coaches under “Project 2027” by CSED Initiative to 411.

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