Z-PRO MEDIA

By Maxwell Kumoye  Uganda's emergence as host of the 2031 African Games has been linked to the rotational hosting policy of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), a framework designed to ensure equitable distribution of the continent's biggest multi-sport event among Africa's regions. Investigations have revealed that the East African nation benefited significantly from the policy, which seeks to spread hosting opportunities across the continent rather than concentrating them in a few countries. The decision is also understood to have been aided by Nigeria's withdrawal from the race, leaving Uganda as the sole candidate for the prestigious event. For Nigeria, supporting the rotational arrangement aligns with the country's longstanding contribution to the growth of the African Games movement. The nation has already hosted the continental showpiece twice, first in Lagos in 1973 and again in Abuja in 2003, making it one of only a handful of c...

By Maxwell Kumoye        The Akwa Ibom State sports sector may be on the verge of a major transformation following a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, at the iconic Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. The strategic session, held in Uyo, brought together chairmen and secretaries of various sports associations alongside key stakeholders, with a unified goal to address systemic challenges and reposition sports in the state for sustained growth and competitiveness. Representatives from a wide spectrum of sports, including football, boxing, karate, weightlifting, aquatic sports, chess, scrabble, and judo, engaged in robust discussions centered on practical reforms and improved administration. In his address, Bassey praised the commitment of association leaders, describing the meeting as a deliberate effort to strengthen collaboration and build a more effective sports framework.  He also acknowledged...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, South-South, Nigeria           It was a day of speed, belief and golden moments at the iconic Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, as the home of fast finishes witnessed another chapter in the 2nd Niger Delta Games. The crowd, thrilled and excited, rose to its feet as Team Delta strode to multiple podiums, but none more dramatic than the men’s 100m final. Leading the charge for the state was an A+ performance from young sprinter, Samuel Chibueze Osama, who delivered Delta State's fourth athletics Gold.  Clocking a smart 10.41 seconds, he closed the race by a razor-thin margin, with Gift Bright of Akwa Ibom State placing second in a time of 10: 57 secs with fellow teammate, Saturday Godswill, taking the bronze in a time of 10:59s. From the gun to the tape the win it was a flash of Faith, Fearlessness and Focus, fused together for the Delta flash....

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, South-South, Nigeria            A key and influential member of the Edo contingent, at the 2nd Niger Delta Games, Tejiri Ugoh Praise has described her silver-medal performance in the women’s 100 metres as “an unexpected blessing and a great achievement. She made this statement in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, stating that a podium finish was the last thing on her mind. The sprinter said she had not trained in the days leading up to the race, so she kept her expectations low.  “I wasn’t expecting a podium finish, but I placed second, so it’s a big win for me and I’m very happy,” she said, calling the result “the first tournament of the year” and an encouraging start. Far from satisfied, the athlete framed the silver as only the beginning. Tejiri Ugoh said the performance has “barely scratched the surface” of wha...

By Mishael Emmanuel and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, South-South, Nigeria        A blistering sprint finish from Chibueze Osama powered Team Delta to another golden moment at the ongoing Niger Delta Games, as the boys’ 100m final lit up the tracks of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.      Osama stormed clear of the field to clock 10.41 seconds, securing Delta’s fourth athletics gold. While Gift Bright of Akwa Ibom State came second in a time of 10.57s with Saturday Godswill taking the bronze in a time of 10.59s   Delta doubled its celebrations in the women’s 100m, where rising sprint sensation Ejiro Peter surged to gold in 11.55s. Tejiri Ugoh Praise and Victory Imosiemoh Azobudi, both representing Edo, finished second and third respectively.   Despite narrowly missing gold, Team Edo and Akwa Ibom drew confidence from their slim margins, viewing the results as proof that futur...

...Obaisuwa powers Edo to more glory By Mishael Emmanuel and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, South-South, Nigeria        Team Edo got off to a dream start at the ongoing 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Games, as Philomena Edomwandagbon, took the first dip of the precious yellow metal on offer at the annual Games for the ‘Heartbeat of the Nation’ in the Women's Para-Weightlifting 67kg class, on Saturday. With perfect execution that oozed poise-strength-and-precision, the hosts could not request a better start to the week-long festivities, as Edomwandagbon 115kg lift, set the tone for what promises to be an inspiring outing for the hosts.   Team Rivers were the closest to the hosts deafening lift, taking silver with an 87kg weight lift, while the Imo State walked home with the bronze after managing an 82kg weight.   The golden momentum continued when Obaisuwa Emmanuel picked up the next nugget of Gold ...

By Mishael Emmanuel and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State, South-South, Nigeria        It was glitz, rhythm and cultural splendour on Friday night at the iconic Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium as the second edition of the Niger Delta Games roared to life in spectacular fashion.   Organisers, Dunamis Icon Ltd and partners, delivered a meticulously choreographed opening ceremony that blended sport, music and rich Niger Delta heritage, setting the tone for a week-long festival of youthfulness and excellence.   A vibrant cultural parade ushered in the festivities before the stage lights gave way to thrilling musical performances. Headlining the night, Nigerian reggae-dancehall star Patoranking known for hits like, My Woman, My Everything, Girlie ‘O’ (Remix) and Abule, lit up the stadia with high-energy Afrobeats anthems.   Gospel powerhouse Eben, best known for soulful track, Victory, created an a...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye        With just two days to go before the second Niger Delta Games kick off in Benin, Edo State Sports Commission Executive Chairman, Honourable Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has charged Team Edo athletes to be “strong like lions and soar like eagles” as they prepare to compete on home soil. Enabulele led his management team, including Permanent Secretary Mrs. Patricia Efe-Amenze, Executive Director of Sports Development and Operations Mrs. Sabina Chikere, and other senior officials, on a morale-boosting visit to the Team Edo GRA camp on Wednesday evening. During the visit, he expressed appreciation for the athletes’ dedication and sacrifices, noting the challenges of leaving their families to focus on final preparations. "We are here to appreciate you and to admonish you as we are close to the commencement of the Games," he said. "We have confidence in you and believe in your ability to deliver for your dear state." Ena...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel         At the iconic Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital, the message was loud and clear, forget the medal rush, find the next champions. This is the submission of a passionate sports administrator Braveman Wodi As over 250 young athletes from Akwa Ibom lined up for screening ahead of the 2nd Niger Delta Games, Braveman Wodi and his four-man panel delivered a timely reminder, this competition is about building the future, not chasing quick glory. “Our coaches must prioritise long-term athlete development over immediate medal ambitions,” Wodi declared, setting the tone for what the Games truly represent, a talent factory for tomorrow’s national stars. The screening exercise wasn’t just a formality. It was a statement of intent.  Athletes were vetted for eligibility to ensure fairness and a level playing field.  Only registered competitors under the age of 20, ...

      For cross-country skiers at the Milano Cortina Olympics winning a medal does not just depend on having great skis, it is also about how those skis are treated and the team of people who know exactly what to do to create the optimal glide. Fast skiing depends on a range of external factors: varying snow conditions, fickle temperatures and variable terrain. That means each athlete on the World Cup tour must travel across multiple countries with a truckload of Nordic ski equipment.   "A full-time World Cup skier usually has somewhere between 50 and 70 pairs of skis. Some athletes even break the 100-pair mark, which can work but it definitely adds a whole new layer of chaos," said Chris Hecker, one of the U.S. ski team's wax techs.   They are essentially a group of amateur physicists, meteorologists and craftspeople all bundled into one.   For U.S. athletes, the massive ski fleet is stored in Yolanda, a semi-truck that doubles as a waxing work...

...Italian politicians critical, some demand ICE be barred ...Italian government says ICE won't be on the streets ...Italian interior minister to address parliament         U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel will help protect U.S. delegations at next month's Winter Olympics in Italy, causing a political uproar in the country.   ICE and Border Patrol agents have come under heavy criticism over their enforcement of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown after they shot and killed two U.S. citizens in separate incidents this month in Minnesota.   ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division will back up the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service at the February 6-22 Milano Cortina Olympics, the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X.   The ICE agents' role will be "to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations," the post added, noting "all security operations remai...

...NSC DG rallies journalists to join the push for a new sporting era By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye, who was at the Big Sports Dialogue 1.0          The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Chief Bukola Olopade, on Monday delivered a powerful charge to Nigerian sports journalists, describing the media as the “lifeblood and backbone” of sports development in the country. Addressing a hall packed with powerbrokers at the Big Sports Dialogue 1.0 in Ikoyi, Lagos, Olopade left no room for doubt: Nigerian sports cannot rise without the full weight of the press behind it. In a stirring message, he warned federations and associations against sidelining the media, insisting such neglect is a direct threat to their survival. “The media are the unsung heroes — the silent gears that keep every federation running. Any association that ignores the press is signing its own stagnation,” he declared to rousing nods. Olopade...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Maxwell Kumoye in Lagos  Nigeria’s sports community gathered in Lagos on Monday and delivered one message with thunderous clarity, If Nigeria wants to compete with the world, it must get its sports right and get it right now. At the Villa Dome in Ikoyi, the maiden Big Sports Dialogue 0.1 united the country’s top sports thinkers, policy makers, administrators, marketers, private sector leaders and media heavyweights.  For hours, they dissected the rot, the mistakes, the missed chances and then set their sights on a bold rebuild. It was not a ceremony. It was a wake-up call that was audible for even the deaf to hear. “SPEAK TRUTH TO THE POWER AND LEARN WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT” Organizing Committee Chairman Osaze Ebueku set the tone early. “This dialogue became necessary to speak truth to power. Nigerian sports have strayed too far. Today begins the journey back.” Convener Aron Akeredola echoed the same urgency, insisting the meeti...