Sports
Excitement as Enugu philanthropist Odegene leads sports enthusiasts in exercise session
…says Gov Ugwuanyi an epitome of peace
It was excitement this morning at the Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu, when Enugu state sports lovers and enthusiasts welcomed Chief Captain Evarest Nnaji (Odengene) to their midst for their routine morning exercise.
Chief Evarest who arrived the venue of the sports at about 7:30am was received by thousands of athletes, including different fitness associations who could not hold back their joy even as the captain was fully kitted for the day.
Two of the prominent sports associations who received Chief Evarest, fondly called Odengene due to his famous spirit of philanthropy, humility and non-discriminatory friendliness, were the Coal City Keep Fit Club Enugu and the Coal City Fitness Exclusive Enugu.
Chief Odengene who was urged to lead the workout accepted the challenge and led the sports’ lovers on a 50 minutes arduous jogging to the admiration of the teeming crowd.
Meanwhile, the Captain has lauded the efforts of the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at ensuring the environment was conducive for sporting and outdoors activities. He stressed while addressing the clubs’ members on the need to see one another as one even though they belonged to different associations.
According to him, progress is made through competition, and a society without competition would soon find itself on the isle of extinction. He, however, said that such competition must be healthy, robust and progressive in nature.
Chief Odengene further reiterated that Enugu state was enjoying peace and progress because of a man of peace the state was blessed with. He urged the crowds to key into the peace mantra of the governor for the continuous peace, unity, growth and progress of the state.
On their part, the chairmen of the Coal City Fitness Exclusive and Coal City Keep Fit, Chief Cosmas Agagbo, lauded Chief Odengene for his resolve to continue to identify with them despite his tight schedules.
Addressing the people, Chief Agagbo who could not believe the coming together of the sports clubs declared that it was only a man like Odengene that could command such uncommon aura of respect and confidence, adding that the philanthropist had proven himself reliable and worthy to be trusted due to his antecedent for championing the cause of humanity.
Chief Agagbo, while assuring Odengene of their resolve to match with him in rain and in sun, lauded him for pursuing peace among the people. According to him; “Chief Odengene is a man that I appreciate so much. He is not a stranger to me and to many of us here. He is a man I can vouch for having known him for over 25 years through my boss, Chief Arthur Eze.
“Odengene is full of positive surprises and I have always had respect for him. He is a man loved by God and by humanity for his uncommon spirit of generosity. He is a man who doesn’t want to know what part of the country you came from before doing greats for you. God has used him to promote humanity, and he is worthy of our trust, support and prayer.
“Recently, I visited Rt. Hon. Edeh for a function and what I saw at Amagunze dumbfounded me. The 5.4 kilometre road undergoing construction is through his hard earned money. This is a testament to his reliability.
“When I also visited my friend, Hon. Frank Anioma, who is incidentally the Chairman of Coal City Keep Fit, and I asked who’s constructing this road, I was told it’s Chief Odengene, and this has added my respect for him.
“Sir, you are a man of honour and your philanthropic nature has no boundary; it cuts across Enugu state. By your act today, you have shown that you are a man of peace. Sir, there is no other person who can bring these clubs together because it is not possible. But see, you just did. You made it happened.”
Meanwhile, Hon. Frank Anioma, who is the Chairman of the Coal City Keep Fit has poured encomiums on the pilot and entrepreneur stating that Chief Odengene was his brother, friend and ally. Hon. Anioma who spoke on behalf of his club expressed delight over the presence of Chief Odengene adding the he’s a man of peace who could be trusted with the state.
He reiterated their commitment to keep partnering the Odengene People’s Movement (OPM), and promised they would continue to support him. “We are glad to receive you here today. You’ve done well and we are happy. Your participation is a great motivation and has boosted us. We will continue to support and work with you,” he added.
Responding to the cheering athletes, Chief Odengene said he was humbled by the love shown to him by the gathering crowds, and promised to continue to partner with them to keep fit. According to him, health is wealth, and one of the ways to achieve a good health was through exercising the body.
“First of all, I want to thank the leaderships of the clubs; Coal City Keep Fit and Coal City Exclusive. These are the two most powerful fitness clubs in Enugu state, and when I look at you, I see that you’re the energy for the city. You’re the power for the city. I see youthfulness. I see beauty. I see handsomeness. I see blossom hearts. When I look into your face I see bright future. It is my honour this morning to be here with you in this very arena. Your action today, as I’m just being told this is the first time you are coming together is not a surprise to me because your action tallies with the spirit of the state. Enugu state as we have it today is a peaceful and rancour-free state. It is a place where His Excellency, our performing and unassuming Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has enthroned peace and equity. So I am not surprised that you are able to come together. It is also in tune with the spirit of the moment.
“I want to thank and appreciate you for the honour you’ve given me today by coming together to run with me in this wonderful morning. All I have to say to you is that Enugu state is the heart beat of Eastern Nigeria and it will continue to be so. Every Igbo person has a root in Enugu, and that is why the state will continue to be a peaceful state. The energy generated in that peace must be continued and we will continue to live together because everybody has a stake in the state.
“I’m here this morning to fraternise with you and to support your clubs; to say I am one of you and I want to say that I’m a member of the two clubs. As a matter of fact, this morning, I am going to register with the two clubs, and I will continue to exercise with you.
“Let me employ that the unity we have forged this morning must be maintained. You know, there is strength in competition. For instance, when there was only NITEL in Nigeria, there was no competition, but immediately we had other telecommunications, we saw a healthy competition and the progress made so far. So, likewise, I want you to see yourselves not as two distinct clubs but two competing clubs that are in unity, just like the two biggest banks in Nigeria once started and they operated a healthy competition. There should be a symbiotic relationship among the people and as you have ran today with me, I will employ that you do more of this, even if is once or twice a year in order to show that we are all brothers.
“I will always join you to exercise. I want to thank you very much for this opportunity. Together we can do it. Together we will continue to make Enugu state great. Together, Enugu state will continue to progress in peace and development,” Chief Odengene told the visibly elated youths and other athletes.
While promising to register as a member of the clubs, the philanthropist doled out over two million naira to the clubs to support their activities.
Sports
Beyond the Trophy: Lessons in Success, Discipline and Integrity from Spain’s World Cup Triumph
By SP Daniel Ndukwe, Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)
Forty-eight nations entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup with one dream—to become champions. By the final whistle, only Spain remained standing.
From the opening match, Spain played with purpose, discipline and confidence, displaying the qualities of a team determined to conquer the world. Their triumph was not built on luck, but on preparation, resilience and unwavering belief.
Spain’s journey to glory was far from easy.
They began the knockout stage with an emphatic 3–0 victory over Austria before edging Portugal 1–0 in a fiercely contested Round of 16 clash. The quarter-finals demanded even greater resolve as they battled past Belgium 2–1, while a composed and disciplined 2–0 victory over France in the semi-finals secured their place in the final.
Every step of the way tested their character, proving that champions are made by overcoming challenges, not avoiding them.
The final against Argentina was the ultimate examination. Facing one of the tournament’s finest teams, Spain remained calm under pressure, trusted their tactical approach and displayed remarkable teamwork.
Their hard-fought 1–0 victory crowned them deserving world champions and demonstrated that sustained success is the product of consistency, discipline and character.
Beyond the trophy lies a lesson for us all. Whether in sports, education, business or any other endeavour, lasting success is built on discipline, perseverance, integrity and honest effort.
Quick gains through crime or wrongdoing may seem tempting, but they inevitably lead to loss, regret and consequences. True victory belongs to those who choose the right path, remain steadfast through life’s challenges and earn their success honourably.
Shun crime. Reject criminality. Embrace hard work and integrity. The surest path to lasting success is the path of honesty.
About the Author
Daniel Ndukwe is a public relations and strategic communication practitioner, as well as a governance, social change and development specialist.
South African football has been thrown into mourning following the death of Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams, who passed away at the age of 25, just weeks after representing his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The heartbreaking news was first reported by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano before being confirmed by several international media outlets, including The Guardian and BBC Sport. South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, also paid tribute, describing Adams as one of the nation’s brightest football talents.
Adams earned widespread admiration during the World Cup for his courage and professionalism after playing in a key group-stage match against Czechia just a day after learning of the death of his beloved grandmother, Marianna Adams. Despite his personal grief, he continued to represent his country with commitment as South Africa reached the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time.
At club level, Adams had just completed an outstanding 2025/26 season with Mamelodi Sundowns, helping the club enjoy another successful campaign after joining from Stellenbosch FC, where he had risen through the academy to become one of South Africa’s most promising midfielders.
Local publication Sunday World reported that Adams allegedly took his own life after battling depression. However, authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of death, and South African police have opened an investigation while urging the public to avoid speculation.
In a heartfelt statement, the South African Football Players Union described Adams’ passing as “an immeasurable loss” to his family, teammates, clubs, supporters, and the entire football community. Tributes have also poured in from FIFA, football clubs, teammates, and fans across the world, remembering him as a gifted player whose career was cut tragically short.
Mexico’s Julian Quinones pulled one back before halftime, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box to fire into the roof of the net and revive the co-hosts’ hopes.
England were reduced to 10 men in the second half after Jarrell Quansah was sent off following a VAR review, but Harry Kane restored England’s two-goal lead with a penalty after goalkeeper Raul Rangel fouled Anthony Gordon.
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez reduced the deficit with another penalty after a VAR review confirmed a foul from Kane on Brian Gutierrez.
The match was delayed by one hour due to adverse weather conditions around the Azteca Stadium.
England will face Norway in the last eight in Miami on Saturday.
Morocco’s dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands on Tuesday sparked jubilant celebrations in The Hague, home to one of the Netherlands’ largest Moroccan communities, but the festivities later descended into clashes with police that resulted in several arrests.
In the city’s Schilderswijk district, Moroccan supporters flooded the streets waving national flags, dancing and chanting as car horns blared and fireworks lit up the night.
Hundreds of fans gathered at a major intersection, kicking footballs into the air, singing, and celebrating with occupants of passing vehicles. Some supporters even climbed onto moving cars in scenes of exuberance following Morocco’s historic triumph.
However, about an hour into the celebrations, riot police moved in to disperse the crowds. Officers deployed water cannons and carried out baton charges as they sought to restore order.
AFP reporters at the scene witnessed around a dozen arrests. Several young men were pinned to the ground after being struck on the legs with batons before being handcuffed and taken away in police vans.
Police officers on bicycles also pursued groups of youths through nearby streets in a cat-and-mouse chase, although no significant property damage was reported.
Despite repeated requests, revellers declined to speak to journalists, with many choosing to conceal their identities by wearing balaclavas or other face coverings.
The last-32 encounter in Monterrey ended 1-1 after extra time before being decided by a tense penalty shoot-out. After a series of misses by both sides, Morocco striker Ismael Saibari, who plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, calmly converted the decisive spot-kick to send Morocco into the last 16.
Morocco will now face co-hosts Canada in the round of 16.
A 26-year-old lawyer, Sara Araba Tettey, has tragically died while celebrating Ghana’s World Cup victory over Panama.
Tettey, a newly qualified lawyer and alumna of the Faculty of Law at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was among millions of Ghanaians rejoicing over the Black Stars’ triumph when tragedy struck.
According to reports, she suffered a cardiac arrest while watching the match with friends at Standard Hostel, a private student hostel located at Bomso near the KNUST campus in Kumasi.
Witnesses immediately rushed her to the
KNUST Hospital, where medical personnel reportedly spent about 45 minutes administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in a desperate attempt to save her life. Sadly, all efforts proved unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead.
Tettey had only recently been called to the Ghana Bar, making her sudden death even more heartbreaking for family, friends, colleagues, and members of the legal community.
News of her passing has spread rapidly across the country, casting a shadow over what had been a moment of national celebration. While Ghanaians continue to celebrate the Black Stars’ victory, many are also mourning the loss of a promising young professional whose life was cut short.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and rapid medical response during large public and social events.
What should have been a day remembered solely for Ghana’s sporting success has instead become a day marked by both celebration and sorrow.
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