By David Owei,Bayelsa
The Founder of SamKay Athletics Club of Yenagoa and Vice Chairman, Bayelsa State Athletics Association, Dr. Samuel Kolawole Oredipe, is eyeing a board position in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) in the forthcoming elections.

A statement issued in Yenagoa on Monday indicated that Dr. Oredipe, a past middle distance runner in the 90s, and active member of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) is seeking the support of the stakeholders in the South-South for the position of Zonal Representative on the board.

Oredipe, who competed at two Nigerian University Games in Bayero University, Kano in 1997 and University of Lagos, Akoka in 1998 in 800m, 1,500m and 3000 steeple chase, has been supporting the growth of athletics in Bayelsa State, South South zone and the country in the past few years.

Dr. Oredipe, who at various times donated various athletics equipment and kits to the Bayelsa State Sports Council and several athletes, has been combing the grassroots and schools to identify talents, provide them with training, running kits and sponsoring them to competitions.

“Dr. Oredipe, was a student athlete at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State and trained under late coach Ore Odelusi and later under Coach Lawrence Adegbehingbe.
He was Captain of FUTA contingent to UNILAG in 1998, a team that had the Handball team, Basketball, Combat sports and others”, the statement said.

“Today, Dr. Oredipe, has provided kits and mentorship to several young athletes in Bayelsa State Sports Council since he became the Vice-Chairman of the Association. Among the athletes are rising star, Tima Seikeseye Godbless, Victory Godah, Godwin Tejiri, winner of 100m World School Competition, Long Jumper Opinion Ebitimi Precious, Sophia Efetobore, and Daje Lucky.”

Dr. Oredipe at the moment through his Samkay Athletics Club and Academy, is producing young athletes who have started making impact in the under age competitions including Perezide Sigah (100m) Faye Perfect (100m), Mekioniso Messiah (Long Jump/400m), Samson Teibowei (400m/800m/1500m) and 13-year old Ebimoboere Christopher, who won the cadet girls 100m and 200m races at the MTN Champs/MoC grand finale recently in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

On his aspiration, the broadcaster, development communicator has said that he would join hands with the stakeholders to strengthen grassroots and under age athletics development across South-South region.

According to the statement, Dr. Oredipe, has promised to adopt new strategies to seek sustainable corporate sponsorship for various events and participation of athletes on the big stage.

Dr. Oredipe, said he would bring his wealth of experience garnered over the years in Sports Journalism and Administration to bear to develop Nigerian athletes for medal placements at future Olympics and other international competitions.

“I am here to serve, continue to support the growth of athletics. Nigeria is a power house and remember that the South-South is not just the heart of sports but athletics too. We will invest in the children and raise future champions from the six States of Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.”

 

By David Owei, Bayelsa
The grand finale of the season 3 of the MTN/MOC Champs has ended in Uyo the Akwa Ibom state capital, with Team Bayelsa amassing a total of 11 medals, comprising 5 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals.

Shalom George

won gold in the 200 metres senior men with a time of 21:77 sec, while Augustine Ezuruike had earlier won silver in the 100meters senior men’s category.

Also Christian Dickson won gold in 110metres hurdles for senior men, while Goodluck Kabowei of SAMKAY Athletics Academy, won bronze medal in 400metres hurdles under 20 junior.

Goodluck Johnbull won bronze in 200 metres under 20 junior category, just as the quartet of David Michael, Bright Benson, Shalom George, and Ebikiemo Ikadoi settled for bronze medal in 4×100 metres relay for senior men.

The star of the four day event was 13 year old Ebimoboere Christopher, of SAMKAY Athletics Academy, a student of St. Agnes Catholic Secondary School, Tombia road, Yenagoa who won both the 100m and 200m cadet under 14 category with a personal best of 12:61 seconds and a new Personal Best of 26:52secs to also defend the 200m race she won at the preliminary event in Benin last March.

Similarly, SAMKAY’s Samson Tebowei won gold in the 1500 metres under 20 junior with a personal best of 4:25: 49 sec. but narrowly missed out the 800 meters event and settled for a silver medal.

Paebi Gabriel leapt 5:0 metres to win bronze in the under 20 junior girls event for Long jump.

Other athletes who could not make a podium finish had their new Personal Bests at the event.

 

By David Owei, Baylesa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has received the Torch of Unity from the National Sports Commission ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival, slated for Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital from the 16th through the 30th May, 2025.

Governor Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, highlighted the importance of peace and unity, stating that sports promote unity, discipline, love and friendship among citizens of a nation.

According to him, the Gateway Games in Ogun State would provide another opportunity to promote unity amongst athletes, pointing out that sports is the only vehicle that has continued to put the country on the path of unity, irrespective of region and tribe.

The state’s helmsman reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of sports in Bayelsa State, adding that the state’s performance in the just concluded Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo was a testament to the abundance of talents in the state.

He urged athletes to adequately prepare themselves for the festival, that there is a huge task ahead to surpass the record set in 2022 in Asaba, Delta State were Bayelsa finished 2nd in the National Sports Festival for the first time, maintaining that Bayelsa has gone beyond the level of participation but winning.

Governor Diri’s administration is committed to completing the 25,000-capacity stadium for the state athletes to compete favourably with their peers outside Bayelsa, stressing that sports remains one of his administration’s cardinal programmes.

“Bayelsa has taken sports as a major tool to take our youths away from crime and drugs, because every youth that is into sports cannot be a criminal. We are also using it to control drugs because drugs and sports are diametrically opposed to each other”.

“We believe that, we are taking sports seriously to ensure that our youths get out of drugs and earn a living through sports. As we speak two Bayelsans are currently in the U-20 national football team in Egypt for the U-20 Africa Championship”

Earlier, commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, in an address of welcome, praised the government’s contributions to the development of sports in the state, describing the event as symbolic.

In a remark, leader of the National Sports Commission delegation, Mrs. Ikana Mbora, said the festival would be an exhilarating experience and expressed the commitment of the commission to ensure its success.

In separate goodwill messages, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Barr Tare Porri and Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, expressed readiness for the fiesta, adding that camping has already commenced for the athletes.