Z-PRO MEDIA

...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...

...As competition gets underway at the Patani Stadium, kids excited - Seasoned journalist, Uzor Odigbo  By Maxwell Kumoye and Trust Ittai      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 H...

...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...

...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...

By Maxwell Kumoye    As 2024 came to a close on Tuesday, leading sporting figures have reflected on the year, the festive season, and their hopes for 2025.  In an interview with newsmen, one of such figure offers insights into the sporting progress made and the challenges faced, along with plans for the year ahead. The President of the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has this to say, "We thank the Almighty God that we ended the year well. We had many grace, blessings and sweet stories during the year. We have a new National Sports Commission (NSC), with seasoned and experienced hands to stir its ship. The AFN President said it was “a great achievement” that young, hardworking and dedicated youth served the sporting firmament and the country well. However, he noted that 2024 also came with challenges, particularly the inability of Team Nigeria AthIetics to mount the podium in Paris during the Olympic Games.  "Already some of th...

...Sends out notice and invitations for overseas based players ahead of D'Tigers' trip to dreaded Lybia ...Home based players will be part of the crucial qualifiers - NBBF boss, Engineer Kida By Maxwell Kumoye        The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), says it has tipped off preparations and build up for the last and crucial Qualifying Window for the 2025 Men's Afrobasket Championship. FIBA Men's AfroBasket 2025 will be the 31st edition of Africa's most prestigious continental men's basketball championship. The tournament will take place in Luanda, the Angolan capital between the 12th and 24th of August, 2025, for the fourth time after they hosted the event in 1989, 1999 and 2007. Former AfroBasket champions and four-time continental silver medalists, Nigeria, will journey to Lybia to compete in the last and final window of the 2025 FIBA Men’s AfroBasket Qualifiers. Your authoritative and award-winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, gat...

...The Nigeria sporting media has helped shape athletics - Chief Okowa  By Maxwell Kumoye          The President of the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, says all their sponsors, associates, partners, athIetes and officials including the media are their Sports Personality of the Year 2024. Chief Okowa, gave this submission in a chat with newsmen while reviewing the activities of the Federation in the last 12 months and also outlining their plans for 2025. “Without our numerous sponsors led by Premium Trust Bank, our associates, partners, athIetes and the media, athIetics would not have flourished in the out going year and we are deeply grateful to them,” the President of Confederation of African Athletics Zone II said. Okowa says, “Edo State, Delta State and some friends of athIetics made the athletics season thicker in 2024.” "The list of individuals and corporate bodies that have been backing athIetics over the years ...

...We will support her, our prayers are with Brume - Chief Tonobok Okowa  By Maxwell Kumoye      “We are with you during this difficult and challenging moment in your life and we shall equally support you to get on the track again as soon as possible.” These are the words of the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, while reacting on the car accident of one of Africa's finest and most successful women's long jumper Ese Brume. “We as a Federation were shocked to learn of the car crash that will keep Ese Brume away from the track for some time,” the AFN President said on Friday. Okowa said, AFN will be keeping a close watch on the recovery process of the four time African champion and Olympic Games bronze medallist. “Our Performance Director Victor Okorie, will be updating the Federation on her progress and on our part we shall keep the National Sports Commission (NSC), up to speed with her condition, needs and support...

...With our collective efforts, determination, we will achieve success - Honourable Onoriode Oborevwori ...Former Chairman of the Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa graced the inauguration ceremony By Azuka Chiemeka and Maxwell Kumoye   The newly appointed Chairman of one of the most proactive and forward looking State run sporting body, the Delta State Sports Commission, Honourable Onoriode Oborevwori, says his reign will certainly add some fillips to the sporting spectrum of the heart beat State. Honourable Onoriode Oborevwori, gave this assurance when the new board of the Delta State Sports Commission (DSSC), was inaugurated in Asaba the State capital in the presence of the former Chairman of the Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa. Oborevwori said, the board will "hit the ground running" in order to ensure the continued success of Delta athletes, particularly at the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Ogun State, scheduled for January 2024.  He also emphas...

Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association begins secondary school scrabble sensitization ...Atunrase Secondary School the first port of call  ...We need corporate backing for this lofty, laudable initiative to blossom - Engineer Dipo Akanbi  By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      The Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association (LASSMA), have begun the pilot project of it 'TAKE SCRABBLE TO SCHOOLS' with the introduction of the sport of words to Atunrase Senior High School, Owodele Street, Surulere, Lagos. The Chairman of Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association (LASSMA), Engineer Dipo Akanbi alongside the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Atunrase Senior High School Mr. Adewale Adelowo, the Principal of the School Alhaji Fatai Yussuf and top scrabble players like Hakeem Olaribigbe were all on ground as the first scrabble tile was placed on the board during the introduction. Atunrase Senior High School with over 330 ...

...WBLA final rounds tip off in Dakar next month  By Maxwell Kumoye       Customs Basketball Club of Abuja, have been awarded wild card for the final round of the FIBA Africa Women's Basketball League which dunks off next month in Dakar, Senegal. The governing body of the slamming and dunking game on the continent gave the Nigeria side wild card due to their track record in the Qualifiers in Monrovia, Liberia last month as well as their fine outing in Egypt last year, where they came fifth. They will now join another Nigeria side Mountain of Fire & Miracle Basketball Club of Lagos in the finals scheduled to hold from the 6th to the 15th of December at the Dakar Arena. 12 Clubs from 8 countries, namely Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal will be competing for honours at the event. Just like Nigeria, Egypt have two teams Al Ahly Club and Sporting Alexandria in the competition and so ...