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

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.

Local News

As curtain falls on NDSF, NDDC weighs return in 2027

After six days of sporting contests, the curtain was partially drawn on the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) with finals in football, athletics and wrestling.

For the close to 3,000 athletes who made it to Uyo with their respective states, it’s possibly an experience they will live with even if they drop out of sports as a career in the future.

This was succinctly captured by Alabo Boma Iyaye, Chairman of the NDSF Main Organising Committee (MOC) when he addressed the media shortly after the rounding off meeting of the organising body.

“This festival has provided opportunity for bonding among youths of our region, memories that they will carry all their lives. We are happy at NDDC to have made this platform available,” Iyaye has remarked.

For a festival that took off with all the trappings of a carnival on the opening night, the closing is not expected to be less of a spectacle.

Dunamis Icon Limited, the festival project managers are expectedly retaining the services of Smile Global Entertainment, producers of the opening ceremony for an encore.

Brown Chinedu Wilfred, the Abia State born all-white dresser was all over the Uyo Township Stadium venue of the event, coordinating his team as they mounted exotic lights and high quality speakers.

“We are setting up differently from what we did on opening day but this time, it’s going to blow minds,” Wilfred boasted.

Itiako Ikpokpo, the Lead Consultant, told journalists that the festival objectives have been met but added, “We will surely put up a good show befitting all that was accomplished in attention to details we brought to organise this event. However, the real accomplishment will be achieved when we are able to groom discovered athletes to be on the podium in years ahead.”

Earlier, Iyaye had announced the decision of the MOC to recommend that the festival be a biennial event.

“We have received commendations from all over the country and the MOC reached a decision today to recommend to the NDDC Board that this festival should hold every two years,” said Iyaye who also is the Executive Director Finance and Administration at the NDDC. Present at the briefing and on hand to watch the final races was the Chairman of the NDDC Board, Chinedu Ebie.

David Akahalu anchored the Edo State 4×400 meters quartet to clinch the gold medal in the very last event that drew the curtains on the festival. That win, coming after Delta State girls took the gold in the 4x400m relay seem to have pushed Bayelsa State off the pinnacle of the medals table.

Local News

Uyo, Akwa Ibom To Host 11th Nigeria Pitch Award On 25 March

Organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards on Tuesday announced plans to host the 11th Award Ceremony after the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Warriors of Zimbabwe on 25th March 2023 at the Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement, Mr Shina Philips, President of the awards stated that in addition to unveiling of winners for all award categories, two distinguished Nigerians would be honoured with the Special Achievement in Sports Award for their contributions to the development of sports in the country.

Alhaji Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission will be honoured for his contributions to the growth of sports in the country. Uptill 2011, he had served as a consultant to the sports committee in the Federal House of Representatives where he assisted in drafting the National Sports Commission bill in the National Assembly. He was also second Vice-President of the Nigeria Football Federation between 2014 and 2022.

Another distinguished Nigerian to be honoured at the 11th Award Ceremony is AIG Garba Baba Umar (rtd). In 2010, he served in an ad-hoc capacity as Chairman of NFF Security Committee at the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa and as Chief Detail of Team Nigeria to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. As Security Adviser to the Nigeria Football Federation, he has been involved with security and safety arrangements at stadia all over the country during matches involving the National Teams and Representative Clubs.

Other highlights of the 11th Award Ceremony include announcement of winners in 18 award categories. It will be noted that organizers unveiled nominees for the 11th edition of the awards on 20th February 2025 in Lagos.

Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF President (M), Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards (R) and Nelson Olafisoye also of the Nigeria Pitch Awards (L)

The King of the Pitch category will be a straight contest between Atalanta FC sensation, Ademola Lookman, Galatasaray FC Victor Osimhen and Al-kholood FC defender, William Troost Ekong. In the Queen of the Pitch category, Bay FC forward, Asisat Oshoala will square up against Paris FC goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Atlético de Madrid Femenino forward, Rasheedat Ajibade.

In the Football Friendly Governor of the Year category, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and Godwin Obaseki, former Edo State Governor who was in office from12 November 2016 to 12 November 2024 will compete for the crown.

Ademola Lookman of Atalanta FC is up against Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen and Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray in the race for the Striker of the Year Award.

The battle for the Best Corporate Sponsor of Football Award will be between GTI Financial, MTN Nigeria and Bet9ja Limited.

Other categories to be decided are Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sam Okwaraji Award, Sportsmanship Award, State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme, Football Pitch of the Year and Football Journalist of the Year Awards.

Mr. Philips expressed organizers’ gratitude to the President and entire management team of the Nigeria Football Federation for their support and partnership since the awards began in 2013.