Sports
Benue paralympic team laments poor welfare, govt neglect
By Adams Oche
Benue State para athletes have decried lack of facilities and government neglect ahead of para-games.
Chairman of the association, Mr. Agada Austine, who disclosed this said the challenges are coming at a critical time when athletes are preparing for the para-games scheduled to hold in March.
They lamented absence of critical sports facilities, inadequate training equipment and prolonged neglect by the state government.
Agada maintained that the lack of basic infrastructure and motivation has greatly affected preparations and has equally compelled many talented athletes to leave the state for greener pastures.
He said, “We are preparing for the para-games coming up in March this year but there are numerous challenges that are confronting us like, the training facilities which need to be put in place, and shortage of training equipment.
“No tracks, as a thrower that I am, no facility for it, no kits. There should be closed camps for the athletes and most especially, monetary motivations which are the reasons Benue State is losing a lot of potential athletes to other states searching for greener pastures because there is no zeal to compete”.
Agada said representing Benue State remains a source of pride for members of the association, stressing that athletes are eager to compete for their home state if the challenges confronting them are addressed.
“We have worked so hard and are motivated by self passion. We started here in the state but because there is no motivation, some of us decided to compete for other states.
“It is pertinent to state here that, we members of this association have tried seeing the commissioner for sports a couple of times and have written letters for audience with him but surprisingly, no one has come to address us even as we speak, has not deemed it fit to address us, the athletes at the sports council and this is very wrong.
“As a youth and sports Commissioner, without sports that ministry will not be complete. We have written out request and documented it but no one to submit it to.”
He appealed to the state government to ensure timely approval and release of funds for sporting events, noting that delays have continued to embarrass the state at national competitions.
He cited the last National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abeokuta, where Benue’s contingent reportedly arrived late, resulting in only one athlete representing the state during the march past.
“When we returned from the last NSF in Abeokuta where we won medals, nothing was done about it up to appreciate us by the state even as we speak and this is enough to demoralize the spirit of the athletes who won medals for the state. At least, we should have been hosted, given awards and told well done for representing the state well in spite of the challenges that we faced, ranging from inadequate preparations due to lack of training pitches, financial backing and the late arrival to Abeokuta because it is not easy to leave your family behind to another state, for up to two weeks.”
Portuguese coach to be unveiled after club election, tasked with ending Madrid’s trophy drought
By Felix Umande
Jose Mourinho is set for a dramatic return to the Santiago Bernabeu after agreeing a three-year deal to become Real Madrid’s new head coach, more than a decade after his first spell in charge.
BBC Sport reported Friday that the Portuguese manager, 63, has reached an agreement with the club, though he will not be officially unveiled until after Real Madrid’s presidential election on 7 June.
Mourinho joins from Benfica, where he took charge last September and guided the Lisbon side to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga this season without losing a match. His appointment comes after a trophyless 2025-26 campaign for Los Blancos.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United, and Roma boss replaces Álvaro Arbeloa, who was named interim coach in January following Xabi Alonso’s departure but failed to revive Madrid’s fortunes.
Real Madrid finished the season without silverware as rivals Barcelona clinched La Liga with a 2-0 El Clásico win, while the club exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals after a 6-4 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich.
Mourinho previously managed Madrid from 2010 to 2013, delivering La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup during a high-intensity tenure marked by his rivalry with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
Since leaving the Spanish capital in 2013, he returned to Chelsea to win the Premier League and EFL Cup in 2014-15, then led Manchester United to the Europa League, EFL Cup, and Community Shield in 2016-17 before his dismissal in 2018.
Stints at Tottenham, Roma — where he won the inaugural Europa Conference League in 2022 — Fenerbahce, and Benfica followed.
Real Madrid will now look to Mourinho’s vast experience and winning mentality to restore the club to the summit of Spanish and European football after a frustrating season.
His unveiling after the presidential vote will mark the start of a new chapter for both the club and the coach who once promised to make Madrid “the best team in the world.”
By Felix Umande
Arsenal have clinched the Premier League title, ending a 22-year wait to be crowned champions of England and igniting celebrations across North London.
The Gunners’ triumph marks their first league title since the 2003-04 “Invincibles” season, restoring the club to the summit of English football after more than two decades of near misses.
At the heart of the success is manager Mikel Arteta, who has made history by becoming the first former Premier League player to win the trophy as a manager. Arteta, who captained Arsenal during his playing days, has now guided his former club to the pinnacle as head coach.
The milestone cements Arteta’s transformation of the squad since taking charge, blending youthful energy with tactical discipline to deliver the club’s long-awaited return to the top.
Fans and former players have hailed the achievement as a defining moment in Arsenal’s modern era, with the title win seen as both a reward for the club’s rebuild and a statement of intent for the seasons ahead.
Burna Boy and Shakira released “Daï Daï” as the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The song will support a global education initiative targeting $100 million in funding for disadvantaged children through royalties and donations.
FIFA confirmed that the 2026 World Cup final will feature a Super Bowl-style halftime concert for the first time.
Grammy Award-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy strengthened his position as one of Africa’s leading global music figures after collaborating with Shakira on “Daï Daï,” the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The track, released globally on Thursday, May 14, became the second single from the tournament’s official album and received a significantly warmer reception than “Lighter,” the first single performed by Jelly Roll and Carín León, which drew mixed reactions from audiences.
On her Instagram account, Shakira released a one-minute video revealing the title selected for the 2026 World Cup. The footage showed the singer walking through Maracanã Stadium after a live performance attended by a large crowd while carrying “Trionda,” the tournament’s official ball.
“Today, the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 reached a new milestone with the release of the competition’s official song, Daï Daï, performed by Shakira and Burna Boy via Sony Music Latin,”FIFA said on its official website.
Afrobeats Secures a Global Stage
“Daï Daï” blends Latin pop and Afrobeats influences. The expression reportedly derives from Italian and means “Go!” — a universal chant of encouragement.
Shakira and Burna Boy combined their vocals and stage energy to celebrate football’s global appeal and cross-cultural exchange.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy, plays a central role in the project. The 35-year-old artist brought Afrobeats’ signature sound and his international profile to the song, while Shakira contributed her Latin pop identity.
The collaboration further established Afrobeats as a major force in global music and positioned Burna Boy as one of the defining musical faces of the 2026 tournament.
Earlier this spring, Burna Boy became the first African artist to headline a solo concert at Stade de France. He also released his ninth studio album, “No Sign of Weakness” , in July 2025. The project remained rooted in Afrobeats while featuring collaborations with Mick Jagger, Travis Scott and Stromae.
Meanwhile, FIFA confirmed that the 2026 World Cup final, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, will include a halftime concert inspired by the Super Bowl format for the first time.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will also mark the first edition featuring 48 national teams.
“Daï Daï” Supports Children’s Education
The “Daï Daï” initiative also carries a philanthropic dimension.
In partnership with FIFA and Global Citizen, Shakira aims to raise $100 million to improve access to education and football programs for disadvantaged children worldwide.
The project will direct all royalties generated by the song to the Education Fund. Meanwhile, Sony Music announced an initial donation of $250,000 to support the initiative and expand its social impact.
Ubrick F. Quenum
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