Sports Groove

...To decide on venue today as South South, South West show interest in Classics  ...AFN board member, Okorie completes athletics office, hostel in Ebonyi By Gowon Akpodonor with additional information by FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG  The five Directors of Sports in the South-East Zone of Nigeria are all yearning to stage the inaugural edition of the Tobias Igwe Memorial Athletics Classics (TIMAC). The Initiator and sponsor of the Classics Victor Okorie made this known on Tuesday in a chat with the Guardian Newspaper in Lagos.   Okorie, a board member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), is sponsoring the Classic in honour of the late Tobias Igwe, who is rated as one of Nigeria’s greatest athletics managers of all time. “All of them want the Tobias Igwe Memorial Athletics Classic to take place in their states, but we have to settle for one venue. Maybe, by next year, it will rotate among the States.”   The AthIetics Classic, which was initially meant...

...Championships to hold in May, 15 countries to participate ...AFN adjusts calendar, reschedules Awoture U-15, U-18 Championships to align with the change  By Maxwell Kumoye     The maiden edition of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Zone II U-18 and U-20 Championships will now take place in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. The decision to move the Championships to Accra was was taken by the Executive Committee of the regional athletics body.  The President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Zone II, Chief Tonobok Okowa, said, “Yes we had initially agreed to stage the competition in Dakar, Senegal but we have to moved it to Accra because of some logistics reasons.” The CAA Zone II President, Tonobok Okowa, who is also a Vice President of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), and the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), stated that Ghana is an excellent replacement for Senegal.  “Last year Ghana hoste...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye  The Head Coach of Nigeria female national team, D'Tigress, Rena Wakama, has been named as the Best Basketball Coach by the Continental Olympic Body, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). This piece of cheering news was provided to your authoritative and award-winning news channel, FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, Tony Obiora Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Olympic Committee. The 32 year old gaffer received the noble and prestigious award following her impressive performance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. At the Olympic Games, under Wakama' leadership, D’Tigress became the first African team, male or female, to reach the last 8 of basketball event at the Olympics after beating Canada 79-70. She was also named the Best Coach of the basketball event by FIBA.  It will also interest you to know that, In 2023, she became the first female Head Coach of D’Tigress, and became the first Nigerian N...

...13 oversea base players drawn from 10 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa ...5 Rivers Hoopers players make the cut alongside 3 from Hoops N' Read  By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye       The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), has made public a 24 man D'Tigers' provisional roster for the crucial final Window 2025 Afrobasket Qualifiers scheduled to hold in Tripoli, the Libyan capital later this month.   The roster was made public over the weekend and it include 11 players from 4 clubs in the domestic league with Champions, Rivers Hoopers having the lion share of 5 players. One of the biggest club on the domestic front, Hoops N' Read has 3 on the list while Wisdom Anyaoha and Rayyan AR Salis from Gboko City Chiefs is joined by Customs' shooting guard Ibe Agu. Your authoritative and award-winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG , understands that the 11 home base players will be supported by 13 other players from Eur...

...Emir of Gombe honoured with lifetime patron of Inter Secondary Schools Athletics and Principal Football Cup Competitions By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      The Emir of Gombe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, is very elated and satisfied with the sponsor of 2025 Gombe State Inter Secondary Schools Athletics and Principal Football Cup Competition, Honourable Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe. His Royal Highness, Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, gave the commendation during the closing ceremony of the 5-day event held at Pantami Stadium. The Emir who was represented by Dan Adalan Gombe, Alhaji Muhammad Baba Mabani said, the Competitions will go a long way in discovering talented athletes and at the same time help improve their skills for future national and international engagements. "We really appreciate Honourable Gara's commitment and determination to move the State forward as far as sports is concerned,'' the Emir stated. He added that the...

...Gombe State Government will continue to support grassroots sports, other programmes - State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aisha Umar Maigari By Maxwell Kumoye      The Gombe State Government has promised to grant a one week break for schools in the State to participate in the 2026 edition of Gombe Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics and Principals' Cup Football Competition. Gombe State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aisha Umar Maigari, gave the assurance in a chat with sports journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing Gombe State Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Competitions. She explained that the approval will be possible if the competition do not clash with the schools academic calendar. Dr. Aisha, assured that the Gombe State Government will continue to support grassroots sports and other programmes aimed at developing talents in the State. "The State Government is in support of the Gombe State Inter-secondary Schools Athletics Championship and the P...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Education stakeholders comprising schools principals and teachers Union and their Sports counterparts had some thoughtful words the chairman Gombe State Amateur Athletics Association (GSAAA), Honourable Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe for successfully hosting the Inter-secondary School Athletics Championships and Principals Cup Football Competitions in Gombe. The Principal and Chairman of Union of Schools Principals, Abubakar Sadiq Sulaiman said, Gombe schools have enjoyed a week of sports competitions with huge number of students from 73 schools from the 11 Local Government Areas of the state.  Sulaiman who is also a member of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) said, the joy the competition brought to the teeming youths of Gombe State will linger for a long time to come. He expressed gratitude to the Sponsor for engaging the youth of Gombe State and distracting them from vices. He stated that the competition is a lifetime sports career path way...

...Competitions aimed at providing a platform for athletes to showcase their talents, carve out a career path - Honourable Shuaibu-Gara Gombe By Maxwell Kumoye       The Initiators and Organisers of the ongoing Gombe State Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics and Principals' Cup Football Competitions, have concluded plans to stage the first ever Gombe State Inter-Tertiary Institutions Athletics and Football Competitions. This cheering news was made public on Thursday by the Chairman of Gombe State Amateur Athletics Association (GSAAA), Honourable Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe who is also the Competition Director General. Honourable Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, stated that two-in-one Competition scheduled to hold later this year is receiving positive feedbacks from higher institutions in Gombe State. Your authoritative and award-winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, gathered that 11 tertiary institutions in Gombe State have already registered for the Games. ...

...Appeals to the State Government for support        The winner of the 1500m event in the U-20 junior category at the ongoing Gombe State Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Championship, Lame Danladi has set his sight on break Africa Games record in the distance. In a post race interview with sports journalists at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe, Danladi, who also won gold and silver for Gombe State at the 2023 MTN Athletics Championship in Jos, explained that, with adequate preparations, he was confident of achieving the feat in the next five years. Besides, Danladi, a Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 student of Diocesan High School, Gombe, said he was also ready to represent Gombe State at the forthcoming National Sports Festival zonal elimination later in 2025. The SSS 3 student, who named Jamaican sprint legend, Usain Bolt as his model, explained that he has been training in the past three months for the one week athletics competition. Danladi,has some pl...

...NJF President, Dr Olakunle Oshodi elected as General secretary ...New board to serve for four years By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye           The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel congratulated the President of Nigeria Judo Federation, (NJF), Dr. Olakunle Musa Oshodi, on his election into the West African Judo Union. The West African Judo election was held in Casablanca, the Moroccan port city on January 14, 2025, with 12 West African countries in attendance. The election was held at the five-star, Hotel Grand Mogador in Pasteur Avenue during the African Judo Union Congress. During the election, President of Nigeria Judo Federation, Dr. Olakunle Musa Oshodi, was elected as the General Secretary. The news of his election thrilled the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engineer Habu Gumel, who praised him for his unwavering commitment to Judo in Nigeria. He urged him to use his entry into the ...

By Maxwell Kumoye and Uzor Odigbo    Katsina State based female artist Maryam Sa'ad, was a delight to watch as she thrilled the crowed at the official opening ceremony of the 2025 Gombe Inter Secondary Schools Athletics which took place on Tuesday at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe State. The Katsina born music artist lived up to expectations as her songs and artistic display on stage saw spectators dancing to frenzy.  The 23 year-old graduate of Katsina State College of Education performed for 20 minutes and her songs received a good applause and was commended by Director General of the competition, Honourable Ahmed Gara Gombe and other guests who had to stepped down from the VIP stand to join in the dancing session. Speaking after her brilliant performance, Maryam Sa'ad, said she started her music career at Seven in Katsina and she had performed in various states and composed different songs for politicians and other dignitaries in the Northern part of Nigeria....

By Maxwell Kumoye    An estimated 3000 secondary schools students in Gombe State were elated and excited to grace the opening ceremony of Gombe Inter Schools Athletics and Principal Cup Football Competition which started on Tuesday at the Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe State. The students who represented their various schools at the opening ceremony were very elated to be part of the event and for most of the students, it was their first experience. Over 25 private schools including 40 public schools participated in the match pass that lasted for almost an hour. Government Senior Secondary Schools Bolari East won the match pass and went home with N100,000 cash handed over to their school Games Master. The State commissioner for Education, Dr. Aishatu Umar Maigari led the other dignitaries to take the official kick off of the Gombe State Principal Cup. The opening football match was between Government Day Junior Secondary School and Savannah Group of School. Savann...

...Any school found violating the rules of the competition will be punished - Gara Gombe  By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye  Renowned sports administrator and retired FIFA referee, Dr. Alex Mana is to head the panel that would receive and treat petitions at the ongoing Gombe State Principals Cup Football Competition for Secondary Schools and the state's Athletic Championship. This development was made public on Tuesday at the start of both events in Gombe State. 31 secondary schools - 15 private and 16 public secondary schools are competing for honours in the two competitions, being bankrolled by Green White Green Sports Center Limited and Gombe State Athletics Association. Chairman of the events' MOC, Honourable Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe charged the participating schools to abide by the rules governing the competitions. He warned that any school found culpable of violating the rules will be punished. “The Principals Cup is a developmental football programme in t...

...1,118 athletes from 31 schools have been cleared to compete in the athletics event By Maxwell Kumoye    As the much expected Gombe Inter-secondary School Athletics Championships gets underway on Tuesday at the Pantani Stadium, The sponsor of the event, Honourable Amend Shuaibu Gara Gombe says his passion and zeal for sports sponsorship is not self-centred Honourable Amend Shuaibu Gara Gombe, came out with this on Monday in Gombe State ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2025 Gombe Inter Secondary Schools Athletics Competition. "My sports sponsorship is borne out of interest and not personal gains. I began helping those in sports when I was Young. I played football, not at professional level, my passion to assist talented youths to excel is totally and truthfully based on national interest." The press conference was also attended by athletes and football stakeholders as the draw for the principal Cup which runs alongside the Athletics Championships was made. Th...

...As competition gets underway at the Patani Stadium, kids excited - Seasoned journalist, Uzor Odigbo  By Maxwell Kumoye and Trust     The Governor of Gombe State, His Excellency, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, will be leading a host of dignitaries to the opening ceremony of the 2025 Gombe Inter Secondary Schools Athletics Competition, scheduled for Tuesday the 21st, at the Patani Stadium, Gombe State. The opening ceremony initially scheduled for Sunday the 19th, was moved to the 21st to allow the Organizers ample time to get the competition into full swing with less distraction. We also gathered that the opening ceremony date was moved to fit into the busy and tight itineraries of the top dignitaries who have been invited to grace this laudable initiative by the Gombe State Amateur Athletics Association (GSAAA), under the stewardship of renowned sports analysis, commentator and an entrepreneur, Honourable Ahmed Shuaib Gara Gombe. His Royal Highness, Alh...

...Abbas Mohammed to serve as Chief track judge By Maxwell Kumoye    The Chairman of Gombe State Amateur Athletics Association (GSAAA), Honourable Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe has made public the list of officials who will officiate at the 2025 Gombe Inter Secondary School Athletics Competition. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, in a press statement issued on Wednesday, seen by your authoritative and award-winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, 12 top athletics officials with vast experience in managing big athIetics event headed by Honourable Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe will take charge of the competition. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, a former board member of Nigeria Football Association now Nigeria Football Federation will be the competition Director General while Dr. Alex Sule Mana is the competition manager. Prince Simon Ayuba, is the Competition Technical Manager, Chief Track Judge is Abbas Mohammed and Gama Yakubu is Chief Field Judge as well as referee alongside Solom...

...Two categories to be competed for at this year's Ibadan Basketball Championship ...Competition to hold at the Adamasingba Sports Complex in Ibadan By Maxwell Kumoye     All roads leads to the main basketball court of the Adamasingba Sports Complex, in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State, South-West, Nigeria, as the 4th edition of the ever exciting, tantalizing and thrilling Ibadan Basketball Championship (IBC), dunks off on Friday and Saturday, this weekend. The Ibadan Basketball Championship (IBC), is an annual basketball tournament which comes up every January in the historic ancient city of Ibadan and it has two categories, male and female. Your authoritative and award-winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, gathered that the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), is working round the clock to make this year's edition unique, memorable and equally scintilating. One of the brain behind this laudable initiative, Shola Durojaiye, said all the clubs and fans ...

...Scouts from Germany led by a ex-captain of Flying Eagles, Andrew Uwe will grace the event  By Maxwell Kumoye                 The Gombe State Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Competition 2025 has received a boost with 73 schools across 11 Local Government Areas (LGA's), officially registered to participate at the championship. This highly anticipated event, scheduled to take place from the 19th to 25th of January 2025, will be held at the prestigious Pantami Township Stadium situated in Gombe Metropolis. The competition, will include both public and private schools such as GDSS Dukku West, GSS Bolari East, Emerald International Academy, and Diocesan High School. The championship is aimed at promoting sportsmanship, uncover young athletic talents, and foster youth development. Participants will compete in varieties of events, including: ✓ 100m ✓ 200m ✓ 400m ✓ 800m ✓ 1500m ✓ 3000m  ✓ 4x100m relay ✓ 4x400m relay Oth...

...Rita Mosindi of athIetics moved to NSF/PARA, Peter Njoku of Basketball now to serve as Zonal Coordinator South-South  ...Ejiro Thukson of scrabble now in chess as Ikhana Mbora leaves Lagos to serve as Deputy Director, Federation - FEAD By Maxwell Kumoye      The National Sports Commission (NSC), has reassigned Secretary Generals of the various National Sports Federations and Associations. Rita Mosindi of AthIetics has been moved to NSF/PARA, Peter Njoku of Basketball is now the Coordinator of the NSC in the South-South zone, in Benin. While the scribe of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Mrs Ejiro Thukson has been moved to the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF). AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), will now be handled by Inwang Israel Mfon, formerly with Mixed Martial Arts.  Olalekan Faseesin of Teqball takes over Boxing Federation from Dapo Akinyele and Anusa Agoga Victor of Wheelchair Tennis Federation is now the scribe of Nigeria Scrabble Fe...

...Sani Mohammed calls on fans, stakeholders to support Sunshine Stars  By Feranmi Adegboyega Samuel and edited by FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG  Sunshine Stars Football Club will finally return to the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure for their home games in the Nigeria Premier Football League next month. This was made public by the Sports Complex Project Manager, Reform Sports West Africa Limited, Sani Muhammed. Reform Sports West Africa construction company was contracted by Ondo State Government in 2024 to renovate the Ondo State Sport Complex and has since been working on the facilities. Mohammed said; "The company can assure the fans and stakeholders in Ondo State that Sunshine Stars will play its First home game this season in Akure by February." “The grasses to be used for the pitch are not from Nigeria and they have to go through processes of production and clearing, right now we are on the process of clearing, so I can guarantee you that come February this y...

...They tick all the right boxes for a perfect host - CAA Zone II, President Okowa By Maxwell Kumoye        The alluring, breathtaking and beautiful capital of Senegal has been selected to host the 2025 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Zone II, Under-18 and Under-20 Championships. This piece of information was made public on Monday night, by the President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Zone II, Chief Tonobok Okowa. Okowa, who is also the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), said 'The Land of the Hospitable Lions' got the nod ahead of Nigeria, Guinea and Burkina Faso because CAA Zone II, wants to expand its reach, unite the region through sport and give every West African country a sense of belonging. “We've hosted CAA Zone II competitions in Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana which are in the West side of the sub region, it's time to give the East side their fair opportunity to create history and add value to a sp...