Sports Groove

...Events to hold in Onitsha, the economic hub of the South East  By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye           This year's edition of the Jordan Nwora Foundation, (JNF), Elite 5 Basketball Camps and 3×3 championship in collaboration with the FIBA Africa Zone 3 and the Honourable Tony Nwora Foundation has been scheduled to take place in Onitsha Anambra, the Economic hub of the South East, Nigeria. This cheering news was made available to your authoritative and award-winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG on Saturday, in a statement by Retired Colonel Samuel Ahmedu, President of FIBA Africa Zone 3. He explained that the age grade basketball events is slated to dunk off on the 1st of July in Onitsha Anambra State and will come to a befitting end on Thursday, July 3rd. The three-day basketball camp and the 3×3 basketball tournament, will feature boys and girls from across Nigeria between the ages of 14 and 18. The event is the bra...

...Effects of drug abuse in Nigeria and Africa, becoming more pronounced - Olympic champion, Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah By Maxwell Kumoye       The Chioma Ajunwa Foundation has concluded arrangements to organize its annual anti-drug abuse and trafficking seminar. The seminar is scheduled to hold on the 26th of June 2025, at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Gymnasium at the National Stadium Lagos State, South-West, Nigeria. The Organizers of the one-day seminar explained that it's a clarion call to government, corporate bodies and well meaning individuals to join in the fight against illicit substances. The President of the Foundation and former Olympics women's long jump champion, Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah, says the event will attract eminent personalities who will be speaking at the seminar themed “Golden Dreams without Drug Abuse or Trafficking.” “The central theme for this 2025 seminar “Golden Dreams without Drug Abuse or Trafficking,” is meant not only t...

...Record entries for FAZ3 Academies Championship By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye        The Main Organizing Committee of the maiden edition of the FAZ3 Academies Championship has increased the number of venues to be used for the competition. We gathered that Dolphins Indoor Basketball Court at Onikpètèsi is the additional venue to be used for the championship that is generating huge interest and excitement among basketball stakeholders in the West African sub region. The Chair Person of the Main Organizing Committee, Elder Toba Shinkaye said the event, originally scheduled to hold at the Warriors Basketball Court in Ilupeju, will now host some matches at the Dolphins Indoor Basketball Court at Onikpètèsi, Lagos. The decision to increase the match venue is due to the timing of the competition. “Bearing in mind the number of matches to be played against the backdrop of the rainy season, we have to get the event done as scheduled. Both venues have...

...As Premium Trust Bank emerges as lead sponsor By Maxwell Kumoye       Corporate bodies in Nigeria are indicating their readiness to partner with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Enugu State Government to make the 23rd National Sports Festival a huge success story. Your authoritative and award-winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, understands that two companies have thrown their weight behind the 2026 Festival scheduled to hold in cool city of Enugu, Enugu State, South-East, Nigeria.  PremiumTrust Bank and BetKing are the first sets of sponsors for the 23rd edition of the Games, setting the stage for what is projected to be the most successful and impactful Festival. The deal followed a high-level meeting in Enugu between the Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, PremiumTrust Bank Managing Director Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, CON, the MD of BetKing, Gossy Ukanwoke and Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable ...

...As scrabble showpiece holds In Lagos By Maxwell Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel                The wooden edition of the one of the most prestigious scrabble events in the continent, the Emmanuel Egbele Annual Scrabble Tournament (EEAST), tagged 'Quinta Essentia' is scheduled to take place at the alluring and captivating Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos State, South-West, Nigeria. The premium championship which is a most attend event in the African scrabble circuit is expected to add some glamour, fillips and panache to the growth of the mind sport in Nigeria and the continent. This year's tournament will not only raise the scrabble barometer but it will also carve a niche for it's high standard with mouth watering and princely prize money and equally jaw dropping gifts and spots prizes that will make the players ask for more. EEAST will be delivered in a manner that will bewitch the players, officials, sponsors, stakeh...

...16 teams to feature at the Championship ...Event to be thrilling, action-packed - Retired Brigadier-General, Aliyu Abdullahi By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye            The 2nd edition of the Chief of Defence Staff U-18 Democracy Day Basketball Championship is set to begin on Friday at the Basketball Courts of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Package B, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. 16 basketball clubs, 10 male and 6 female, drawn from the North-Central Zone, will feature at the week-long basketball championship slated to take place from the 13th-18th of June.   The age grade tournament tagged 'Encouraging Grassroot Basketball Talents', is aimed at discovering, developing, and showcasing young slamming and dunking talents across Nigeria, taking the game to a higher level in their hearts and minds. Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Retired Brigadier-General Aliyu Abdullahi, stated that the championship wi...

...Chief Tonobok Okowa set to get second term ticket as president  By Maxwell Kumoye              Delegates and newly elected board members of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), have started arriving in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, ahead of the much anticipated presidential election of the Association. The AFN presidential election which has suffered multiple setbacks and a shift in date and venue is scheduled to be held on Thursday in Abuja. Initially scheduled for Asaba, Delta State on the 31st of May, the polls was shifted to the 12th June by the last Extra Ordinary Congress of the AFN in Abeokuta after the National Sports Commission (NSC), advised that the elections be moved from Asaba to a neutral venue Abuja since at that time three of the four known presidential aspirants were from Delta State. Following the advise, which was more of a directive from the National Sports Commission, one of the aspirant...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye  He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America, he played baseball and football before starting basketball due to his height. He loves music and plays piano since first grade, but despite the distance between Africa and America, he has strong sporting and educational attachment to young children in Nigeria.  This is the story of Ezekiel Tobechukwu "Zeke" Nnaji, an American professional basketball star who plays for Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Zeke Nnaji, born some 24 years ago is determined to help less privileged young Nigerian children to combine education and sports seamlessly in order to add value to their lives, communities and country. Nnaji, played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats and was drafted 22nd overall by the Nuggets in the 2020 NBA draft and has since become a key and influential member of Denver Nuggets. His father, Apham Nnaji, who immigrated to the U...

    The President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka has extended heartfelt Eid al-Adha greetings to Muslims in Nigeria and around the world, celebrating the values of faith, sacrifice, and unity that define the occasion. Aka, NSF boss and an executive member of World English Scrabble Players Association praised the contributions of Muslim athletes, players, coaches, officials, and supporters to the growth of scrabble and sports in general, describing their commitment as a source of strength and inspiration to the sport. “Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, is a profound reminder of the virtues of faith, humility, obedience, and compassion,” Toke Aka a hydro Engineer said.  “It is a time that calls on us to reflect on the values of unity, generosity, and service to one another as a principles that also lie at the heart of our beautiful mind sport.” He expressed hope that the celebration would renew the spirit of togetherness across com...

...Applauds Sabina Chikere for unwavering support to the school's football team ...We will continue to gives sports in Edo State the needed support - Sabina Chikere By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel            Ogbe Senior Secondary School, on Friday paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Director, Sports Development and Operations, Edo State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, at her office in Benin City, the Edo State capital, South-South, Nigeria. The delegation led by the Principal of Ogbe Senior Secondary School, Mrs. Augustina Itohanmwen, paid the visit to appreciate Mrs. Sabina Chikere for her continued support and contribution to the school in their inter-house sports as the Patroness of Blue House.   The school sports team accompanied by the Head of Sports, Mr. Harrison Ogwu, alongside some staff and the captain of the school football team also thanked Mrs. Chikere for her full participation in the s...

...Team Edo to begin early preparation ahead of 2026 Festival - Director, Sports Development and Operations, Sabina Chikere By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye who was in Abeokuta for the 22nd National Sports Festival          The Executive Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, Honourable Desmond Amadin Enabulele, on Wednesday stated that Team Edo sensational outing at the just concluded National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games, is undeniable evidence of the unwavering support of the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo to sports in the state. Honourable Desmond Amadin Enabulele, explained that Governor Okpebholo’s sports vision centers on identifying, nurturing, and exposing young talents to national and global competitions. Honourable Enabulele made this public in a press statement made available to your authoritative and award-winning news channel, FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG adding that Governor Okpebholo's vision bore ...