Sports Groove

The United Soccer League is raising the standard for how it looks after its players. The USL has expanded its partnership with Kitman Labs, the sports data and technology firm, in a new multi-year deal that puts performance medicine at the heart of the league. Every club in the second-tier USL Championship will get access to Kitman’s iP: Intelligence Platform, pulling medical and performance data into one place. The aim is to create consistent workflows across the league, better collaboration between staff, and the kind of clean data that makes real injury surveillance possible. Kitman founder and chief executive Stephen Smith said the USL has been clear about its ambition. “By committing to a league-wide Performance Medicine platform, the USL is setting a benchmark for how modern leagues can use integrated intelligence to protect athlete welfare, unlock performance insights, and build a sustainable future for the game.” This builds on last year’s deal covering the Gainbrid...

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has reached a landmark in player registrations with 120,000 signed up for the first time – a milestone it says reflects the growth of the game across the country and the governing body’s push to make football more accessible at every level.  The 120,000 figure is up 25% from 96,000 in 2021/22.  The women’s and girls’ game has been the biggest benefactor of that inflation, which the FAW accredits to the national team’s ‘strong performances’.   The stats released by the organisation show that female registrations climbed from 13,000 to more than 21,000 over that four-year spread, an increase of over 60%, driven by initiatives including Huddle, UEFA Disney Playmakers and a wider effort to create more opportunities for girls to play.  The growth has not been limited to traditional club football either. Recreational participation has exploded from just 300 registered players four years ago to more than 7,000 this se...

  By Maxwell Kumoye        The fourth day of the 3rd CGC Volleyball Premier League (First Phase) in Abuja produced thrilling encounters, dominant performances, and dramatic comebacks as teams battled for crucial victories in both the men's and women's categories. In the women's division, Life Camp Volleyball Club maintained their impressive form with a hard-fought straight-set victory over Excelsior VC.  Despite the 3-0 scoreline, the contest was closely fought, with Life Camp edging the sets 25-23, 25-21, and 25-23. Anambra Queens and Benue Queens served up one of the most entertaining matches of the day. Anambra Queens survived a fierce challenge to claim a 3-2 victory after five gripping sets.  After taking the opening set 25-22, Anambra surrendered the next two sets 13-25 and 22-25 before mounting a strong comeback to win the fourth set 25-14 and seal the decisive fifth set 15-11. Defending champions Nigeria Customs Service Women underl...

...The first 18 months will be free of charge – BON Chairman, Chief Tony Akiotu  By Maxwell Kumoye      The Federal Government has officially launched Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) Platform, describing it as a transformative initiative that will drive job creation, boost local content production, expand the creative industry, and stimulate economic growth across the country. Speaking at the launch ceremony held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the project represents a major investment in Nigeria’s future and a significant milestone in the nation’s broadcasting history. According to the minister, a fully implemented DSO ecosystem will create employment opportunities, encourage local manufacturing, strengthen content production, increase advertising revenues, and unlock new income streams for broadcasters an...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      Nigeria's road to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, begins this weekend as the nation's finest athletes converge on the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos for the highly anticipated Commonwealth Games Trials. The three-day competition, scheduled to run from June 20 to 22, will serve as the mandatory selection event for athletes hoping to secure places on Team Nigeria for the Commonwealth Games later this summer.  A total of 32 events will be contested, but attention will undoubtedly focus on 14 marquee events expected to produce world-class performances and fierce rivalries. For the first time in recent memory, the Trials arrive against the backdrop of an intense battle between Nigeria's home-based athletes and a growing crop of elite performers based in the United States collegiate system, setting the stage for one of the most competitive national championships in years. The men's and w...

...Asaba to host Federation Cup final  By Maxwell Kumoye      The race for this year's President Federation Cup women's title intensified on Wednesday as FC Robo Queens, Heartland Queens, Sunshine Queens and Nasarawa Amazons secured places in the semi-finals following thrilling quarter-final encounters across the country. FC Robo Queens produced one of the biggest results of the round, edging seven-time champions Rivers Angels 1-0 to book their place in the last four. The Lagos-based side displayed resilience and tactical discipline to overcome one of the competition's traditional powerhouses. Heartland Queens survived a stern test against Ibom Angels in a dramatic contest that ended 2-2 after regulation time. The Owerri-based club held their nerve in the ensuing penalty shootout, emerging 4-2 winners to advance to the semi-finals. Sunshine Queens also progressed after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Confluence Queens. The Akure side's narrow success was e...

By Maxwell Kumoye       South Africa kept their FIFA World Cup hopes alive after battling from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic in a tense Group A encounter on Thursday. With both teams having lost their opening matches, defeat would have left either side on the brink of elimination. Instead, a late penalty from Teboho Mokoena ensured South Africa secured a crucial point and avoided an early exit from the tournament. The Czech Republic struck first in the sixth minute through Michal Sadilek, capitalising on a lapse in concentration from the South African defence.  A long throw-in caught Bafana Bafana off guard, allowing Adam Hlozek to break down the right flank before setting up Alexandr Sojka, whose clever pass found Sadilek. The midfielder made no mistake, firing a first-time effort beyond goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. South Africa gradually grew into the contest and created several opportunities but struggled to break down a...

  By Maxwell Kumoye    With less than 48 hours to the start of the Commonwealth Games Trials in Lagos, some of Nigeria's top athletes are already showing signs of readiness, and one of them is emerging quarter-miler Gafari Badmus. The talented Nigerian sprinter produced a sensational performance on Wednesday at the Meeting International Ciudad de Malaga in Spain, racing to victory in the men's 400m event with a new personal best time of 45.28 seconds. Badmus shattered his previous lifetime best of 45.53s, set in 2025, further underlining his rapid development and growing status as one of Nigeria's brightest prospects in the one-lap event. The Nigerian crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of Ericson Tavares, who placed second in 45.85s, while Sean Doggett finished third in 46.24s. The performance comes at the perfect time for Badmus, who is expected to be one of the athletes to watch at the Commonwealth Games Trials scheduled to begin this weekend at the Y...

...As Garba recalls historic 2013 Eaglets triumph By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    Renowned sports psychologist Professor Olufemi Adegbesan will today review a new book authored by sports administrator Dr. Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme during its public presentation at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. The event, scheduled to begin at noon, is expected to attract sports administrators, academics and stakeholders from across the country. Adegbesan, a respected figure in sports psychology and education, brings a wealth of experience to the role. The immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ibadan is also an adjunct professor at the Pan African University and currently serves as the national president of the Sport Psychology Association of Nigeria.  His contributions to sports development include involvement in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 sports framework and the design of a postgraduate sports management ...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has thrown the Commission's weight behind Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi and his grassroots football development programme, the Kwara Kiddies League. Dikko made the pledge when he received the Nottingham Forest forward on a courtesy visit to the Commission's headquarters in Abuja.  Awoniyi was accompanied by former Super Eagles striker Anthony Ujah. During the meeting, Awoniyi presented Dikko with an official Nottingham Forest jersey and outlined his vision for expanding opportunities for young football talents through the Kwara Kiddies League and other youth-centred sports development initiatives. The NSC Chairman praised the Super Eagles star for investing in grassroots sports and contributing to the development of future generations of Nigerian athletes. Dikko assured Awoniyi of the Commission's commitment to providing the necessary support and enabling...