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Mid-season: NPFL Top Scorer, Ishaq Kayode Applauds Eunisell

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Mid-season: NPFL Top Scorer, Ishaq Kayode Applauds Eunisell

Mid-season: NPFL Top Scorer, Ishaq Kayode Applauds Eunisell

 

 

 

 

 

Leading scorer of the 2021/22 season of the Nigeria Professional Football League, Ishaq Kayode has lauded Rivers United FC sponsor, Eunisell Limited, for its role in the club’s impressive performance in the first half of the season.

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-season: NPFL Top Scorer, Ishaq Kayode Applauds Eunisell

 

 

 

 

Rivers have been the best team midway into the season, with the Port Harcourt-based club currently topping the NPFL log with 42 points from 19 games, and also having the league’s two top goal scorers in their ranks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking on Tuesday, Ishaq attributed the club’s impressive season to hard work and support from Eunisell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eunisell is West Africa’s largest specialty chemicals and oil and gas productions solutions company and has consistently sponsored Rivers for over five seasons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“With our performances up till the mid-season, I will say kudos to our sponsor, ” the striker said.

 

 

“They have greatly fueled our energy and the sponsorship has been very helpful to our club. A lot has changed in the last three seasons. There are more sponsorships and supports in the league, and that is helping to promote our league. With Sponsors like Eunisell and the good coordinators we have, we are happy to keep going stronger. The league has improved and that is quite encouraging.”

Ishaq who joined the top club in 2019 believed that similar sponsorship deals, more supports from corporate organsations for the NPFL and “bringing back the NPFL TV for robust match coverage will go a long way to grow local football league in Nigeria.”

According to the prolific player, what has kept the team going was “ the winning mentality both home and away, and it helped us a lot. We saw all our matches like the final that we must win, and we worked as a team.”

He pledged that the team will fight hard for the league cup and go all the way to the continental championships to make fans and stakeholders proud.

He noted that officiating has improved remarkably and that has encouraged players to go all out for results.

“Refereeing has been better and helped to improve the league a lot, because they let us know that we can win both away and home games now” he remarked.

Rivers United has won twelve games, drew six and lost only once by a lone goal from Plateau United’s Akila Jidima, out of the first nineteen games of the season.

Speaking in the same vein, the team’s captain, Austin Festus, said Eunisell sponsorship has boosted the game and players psyche.

“The sponsorship of Rivers United by Eunisell has been a great boost. Kudos to the company. Seeing Eunisell in front of our jersey is quite encouraging and we need more of this to improve the league,” he stated.

“As captain, I’m also very impressed with the Eunisell Boot Award which gives N200,000 premium per goal to the league’s highest goal scorer at the end of the season. This makes us look forward to the reward every season and engineers a good sense of competition among players,” the skipper added.

Festus who has played for sixteen years professionally in the NPFL noted that the league has improved significantly in the last few seasons in terms of officiating, quality of game and players, international invitations as well as players welfare.

In his reaction, Eunisell’s Managing Director, Chika Ikenga, expressed excitement over the club’s mid-season performance and urged them to go all the way to make fans proud at the end of the season.

“As a partner, we are glad about the club’s doggedness and impressive mid-season results. We encourage them to keep the rich vein of form running as long as they can.

“Eunisell believes that we can fashion out a partnership with Rivers United and become a winning team and that is why we have stayed with them for the long haul,” Ikenga noted.

Sports

Nanakeme Precious Poweidou Begins European Journey with Bosnia’s Zvijezda Gradacac

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Nanakeme Precious Poweidou Begins European Journey with Bosnia’s Zvijezda Gradacac

Nanakeme Precious Poweidou Begins European Journey with Bosnia’s Zvijezda Gradacac

 

Rising Nigerian football talent Nanakeme Precious Poweidou has officially signed with Zvijezda Gradacac, a professional football club in Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking a significant step in what he calls “a journey, not a hundred-meter race.”

 

The promising player expressed his excitement and gratitude following the signing, saying, “It is not a hundred-meter race, but a journey… I’m looking forward to a great career by God’s grace.”

 

The move to Zvijezda Gradacac marks Poweidou’s first professional contract in Europe, a milestone that signals both the beginning of his international career and the realization of years of dedication, discipline, and hard work on the pitch.

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society

From Dumbbells to DMs: Nigerian Gyms Evolve into Social Hotspots

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The Gym Love Triangle: Fitness, Fashion, and Flirtation in Lagos

 

In the age of fitness influencers, athleisure fashion, and Instagram-worthy workouts, Nigeria’s gym culture is booming. But beneath the sculpted abs and protein shakes lies a more complicated narrative: the gym as a new social playground—and sometimes, a romantic battleground.

From Ikeja to Festac and down to the bustling gyms in Ajah, what was once a space solely for sweat and stamina has evolved into something of a social experiment.

“People are using gyms to hook up,” says Folarin Adekoya, a regular gym-goer in Ikeja. “Some women come in wearing provocative outfits, and it’s not just distracting—it raises questions about their intentions.”

While the body goals are still a priority for many, others are raising eyebrows—and smartphones—as selfies, flirtation, and full-blown relationships begin to rival reps and routines.

“I Came to Lift, Not to Love”

Jason Onwuka, who trains regularly in Festac, says he’s seen it all.

“You have people who are here more for the vibe than the workouts. They spend more time talking and laughing than lifting weights,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He admits, however, that as society grows more individualistic, gyms have emerged as safe, neutral grounds for forming new connections.

“People are lonely. The gym is now a space to find friends, romance, and a sense of belonging,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it’s on you to stay focused.”

“Indecent Dressing Could Get Girls Banned” – Teddy A Warns

The debate recently went viral when Teddy A, a former Big Brother Naija star, posted a video lamenting what he called “indecent dressing at the gym.”

“We don’t want them to start banning girls from gyms because of indecent dressing,” he said in a video that triggered a flurry of reactions online.

While some praised his candour, others blasted his remarks as misogynistic and controlling, igniting fresh debates over dress codes, freedom of expression, and the sexual politics of the gym floor.

Fitness Centre Managers Respond

A gym manager in Ajah, who requested anonymity, told NAN that they’ve had to lay down the law to maintain order and respect.

“We’ve introduced dress guidelines and behaviour protocols. Still, people come to mingle, and as long as no one’s workout is disrupted, we don’t interfere,” he said.

He admitted that while some gym-goers blur the lines, many—especially professional women—come solely for fitness.

“They wear functional gear. Not everyone’s here for attention,” he added.

A Culture in Transition

As Nigeria’s middle class expands and wellness trends grow, gyms are no longer just places to burn calories—they’re becoming microcosms of urban life, where health, identity, and social dynamics all intersect.

But the question remains: Are gyms still sacred spaces for self-improvement—or just another scene for subtle seduction?

For now, the battle between body goals and “boo goals” continues to play out between the dumbbells and the dance bikes, one rep—and one DM—at a time.

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Sports

TRAGEDY IN THE RING: NIGERIA ACCUSES GHANA OF NEGLIGENCE IN BOXER SEGUN OLANREWAJU’S SHOCKING DEATH

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TRAGEDY IN THE RING: NIGERIA ACCUSES GHANA OF NEGLIGENCE IN BOXER SEGUN OLANREWAJU’S SHOCKING DEATH

TRAGEDY IN THE RING: NIGERIA ACCUSES GHANA OF NEGLIGENCE IN BOXER SEGUN OLANREWAJU’S SHOCKING DEATH

The boxing world has been rocked by a scandalous tragedy as Nigerian boxer Segun Olanrewaju collapsed and died in the ring during a professional bout in Ghana, sparking outrage and accusations of gross negligence against the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).

The 40-year-old light-heavyweight fighter, nicknamed “Success,” tragically lost his life at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra. Olanrewaju, in a horrifying and unexplained moment, slumped to the canvas without even being hit by his opponent, Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu, during the third round of the fight. He was rushed to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital but was pronounced dead just 30 minutes later.

Now, the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) is pointing fingers at the GBA, accusing the regulatory body of failing to follow standard boxing protocols that could have saved Olanrewaju’s life. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Remi Aboderin, secretary-general of the NBB of C, delivered a scathing indictment of the GBA, alleging that the fight was not only mishandled but illegally rescheduled without Nigeria’s approval.

BREACHES OF PROTOCOL AND A DEADLY FIGHT NIGHT

According to Aboderin, Olanrewaju’s fight was initially scheduled for March 28th but was inexplicably pushed to the 29th without any prior communication with Nigerian authorities. This, he claims, was just the tip of the iceberg.

“Segun went to Ghana to fight according to the contract, but the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) did not do their due diligence. They did not conduct the mandatory medical examination, nor did they ensure that he made the required weight for the fight,” he told ThisDay Nigeria.

The NBB of C secretary-general further disclosed that Olanrewaju was already en route back to Nigeria after the original fight date was scrapped due to a weight dispute. However, at the last minute, he was allegedly called back to Ghana for the rescheduled bout without undergoing the necessary medical clearance or weigh-in procedures.

“No medical examinations were performed to ascertain his health. No weigh-in was done. He must have been stressed,” Aboderin added, implying that exhaustion and poor oversight may have led to the boxer’s sudden collapse and death.

DID NEGLIGENCE KILL SEGUN OLANREWAJU?

The shocking turn of events has triggered a wave of anger in Nigeria’s boxing community, with calls for an immediate and thorough investigation. Many believe the Ghana Boxing Authority’s failure to adhere to safety regulations directly contributed to Olanrewaju’s untimely demise.

Fans and fellow fighters have taken to social media to express their grief and demand justice, as questions swirl about how a professional bout could be allowed to proceed without proper medical oversight.

Olanrewaju, a former West African and national light-heavyweight champion, had a respectable record of 24 fights, including 13 wins, eight losses, and three draws. His career was marked by resilience and a passion for the sport, making his tragic and avoidable death even more devastating.

With Nigerian authorities now pushing for accountability, the international boxing community is closely watching how the Ghanaian regulators respond. Will justice be served for Segun Olanrewaju, or will this tragedy be swept under the rug? The fight for answers has just begun.

 

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