FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG

Tanzania champions Young Africans have fired their Portuguese coach Pedro ​Goncalves despite an away win ‌on Wednesday taking them a step closer to retaining their title. After a 1-0 ​victory at bottom-placed KMC maintained ​their unbeaten run in the league, ⁠Young Africans said in a brief ​statement only that Goncalves had been ​dismissed and thanked him for his contributions to the club. Goncalves, formerly the coach of Angola’s national team, had been in the post for seven months and guided the ‌side, ⁠who are also known as Yanga, to a five-point lead over arch-rivals Simba in the title race. He also helped them secure ⁠a berth in the group phase of the African Champions League for only the fourth ⁠time. They narrowly missed out on a place in the quarter-finals. Yanga have ⁠won the Tanzania title for the last four seasons.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has not ruled Dani Carvajal out of his World Cup squad but said the right back ‌must prove his fitness and form after the Real Madrid captain suffered a right foot injury in training last week. "Carvajal is a very important figure in our dressing room," De la Fuente told reporters ⁠on Wednesday. "I actually spoke with him yesterday, so I’m aware of what’s going on. He doesn’t have a specific injury, nothing serious, but he needs time to get back to his usual level. "We’ll see in the remaining matches whether he truly gets the opportunity and delivers the performances." De la Fuente added that Carvajal, who ‌made ⁠just one appearance for Spain in 2025, would understand if he was left out of the squad for the World Cup, which is being held in the United States, ⁠Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Carvajal, 34, is approaching the final weeks of his contract with Real ⁠and has struggled for game-time this season a...

Italian second-tier soccer club Venezia has secured a significant minority investment from sports industry heavyweight Tim Leiweke, thanks in part to Canadian rapper Drake. Last week, ‌Venezia secured promotion to Serie A with one game to spare after a 2-2 draw at Spezia, returning to the Italian top flight just a season after their relegation in 2025. Drake, who became an investor in Venezia ⁠in 2024, helped bring in Leiweke and Francesca Bodie, the club said in a statement, as part of a 100-million-euro ($117.72 million) investment. Leiweke has been involved in the administration of NBA, NHL, and MLS franchises including the Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Lakers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The American was appointed co-chairman of Venezia's operating committee, while Bodie, his daughter, was ‌named ⁠the club's president. "(Venezia) is an iconic team with a century-old history in the world's most beautiful city, and we will be relentless in our pursuit o...

The finish line is in sight for Heart of Midlothian as they seek to win their first Scottish title for 66 years and put an end to a seemingly unshakeable Glasgow duopoly. Hearts travel to Motherwell on Saturday with a three-point lead before a home clash against Falkirk on Wednesday followed by a likely title showdown at Celtic on the final day next weekend. For fans of ‌the Edinburgh club, the week ahead promises to be an emotional roller-coaster ride and for those of a certain vintage the nightmare of 40 years ago will be all too vivid. Leaders Hearts arrived at the final day of the 1985-86 season unbeaten in 27 league games, two points ahead of Celtic and requiring just a draw away at Dundee to claim their first title since 1960. Everything appeared on track until Celtic fan Albert Kidd scored two late goals to give Dundee a 2-0 win at Dens Park. Meanwhile Celtic were romping to a 5-0 victory against St Mirren to snatch ⁠the title on goal difference.

AC Milan welcome Atalanta to the San Siro on Sunday, with the hosts looking to arrest a late-season slump that loosened their grip on a Champions League qualifying spot. With the Serie A title ‌race settled following Inter Milan's coronation last week, and with Hellas Verona and Pisa already consigned to two of the three relegation spots, the focus has shifted to the scramble for the remaining three Champions League berths. Second-placed Napoli are favourites for the runners-up spot, having established a three-point cushion over Milan with three rounds remaining and a home clash against Bologna on Monday. Massimiliano Allegri's Milan are third on 67 points, but a run of four defeats in their last seven league matches has invited pressure from the chasing pack. The trio of Como, ⁠Juventus, and AS Roma now enter the final stretch of the campaign knowing that any further slip-ups could open the door to Europe's elite club competition.

...Secured three spots, highest by any African country for Beijing 2027   By Maxwell Kumoye who was in Gaborone        The global sprint spotlight shone brightly on Gaborone as the World Relays delivered a thrilling showcase of speed, precision, and national pride.  By the time the baton had made its final exchanges, 72 teams had stamped their authority and secured qualifications for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 2027. Among the standout performers was Team Nigeria, whose relay squads rose to the occasion with composure and confidence, clinching three coveted qualification spots.  It was a performance that blended youth and experience with hunger. Near perfect baton changes, explosive acceleration phases, and a clear sense of purpose from start to finish. Against all odds and a fiercely competitive field featuring the world’s best relay nations, Nigeria’s achievement did not come easy. Each race demanded near-perfection, and the...

AFC Bournemouth have signed a five-year kit deal with sportswear manufacturer Hummel from the 2026/27 season, in what the club call a record agreement after a competitive supplier tender. The deal brings Hummel back into the Premier League. The competitive process behind the partnership tells its own story. Mid-table Premier League clubs with stable ownership and consistent on-pitch performance are now serious commercial properties in their own right, well beyond the traditional top six. Both parties will develop expanded matchday, training, and lifestyle product lines aimed at core supporters and wider consumer segments. Bournemouth’s superstore is also being refurbished, with completion scheduled after the 2026/27 season, signalling that the club intend to drive revenue per supporter through both product range and retail infrastructure. Jim Frevola, President of Business Operations at AFC Bournemouth, said, “This is a hugely significant partnership, reflecting the progres...

By Maxwell Kumoye      Team Nigeria’s campaign at the World Relays in Gaborone has been defined by meticulous preparation, strong institutional backing, and a historic achievement that has set the nation apart on the continental stage. Arriving well ahead of the competition, the Nigerian contingent ensured optimal readiness, with athletes fully kitted and supported by a complete technical crew, including a robust medical team.  The early arrival allowed the squad to settle, train, and build cohesion, factors that ultimately translated into success on the track. Crucially, the team enjoyed solid backing from the National Sports Commission (NSC), led by Director General Bukola Olopade, whose presence provided both administrative support and morale.  The Nigeria Olympic Committee also played a vital role, with senior Vice President Solomon Ogba offering motivation to the athletes.  Seasoned administrator Salihu Abubakar further reinforced the team’...

Football Australia has called on the Victorian government to overturn a decision banning World Cup matches from being shown on the big screen at Melbourne’s Federation Square. Australia supporters have gathered there for every major tournament since 2006, and the venue has produced some of the most memorable images in Australian football history. The viral scenes of Socceroos fans celebrating qualification to the last 16 during Qatar 2022 went around the world. The 2023 Women’s World Cup brought thousands more. Patrick Clancy, chair of Football Supporters Association Australia, said, “The pictures and videos of Fed Square during World Cup 2022 went viral around the world. We want to see this repeated.” The Melbourne Arts Precinct, which manages the square, says it isn’t happening this time. CEO Katrina Sedgwick cited “behaviour of a small number of people at previous screenings which was simply unacceptable and damaging.” Flare incidents in 2022 and a barrier breach during ...

English Premier League giant Manchester United are in advanced talks with betting firm Betway to conclude a training kit sponsorship deal which will begin next season. According to The Athletic, the agreement is expected to be worth around £18 million per year – ranking among the biggest training wear partnership in world football. The British gambling firm’s logo is expected to feature across United’s Carrington training wear under a multi-year agreement that, if finalised, ends a 12-month gap since the club’s previous training partner Tezos walked away in June 2025. Tezos paid £24 million a year for its contract. The timing of the move is no accident. From the 2026-27 season, the Premier League’s voluntary ban on gambling sponsorship on the front of matchday shirts comes into force. Eleven of the 20 current Premier League clubs featured a gambling brand on the front of their shirts this season. All 11 must find new partners. Training kit deals, by contrast, sit outside th...

...As fans eye ₦1m cash bonanza Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      Popular Afrobeats sensation Portable will headline the closing ceremony of the 2026 Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Four as organisers prepare a grand finale at the Remo Stars Stadium. The Ogun State-born entertainer, whose real name is Habeeb Olalomi, is expected to thrill fans with his energetic stage performance, viral dance routines and chart-topping hits as the curtain falls on the tournament that will determine the champions of the 2025/2026 NNL season. Organisers also announced a series of cash rewards aimed at boosting fan participation and creating a carnival atmosphere around the competition.  Two lucky spectators will win ₦500,000 each in a live raffle draw to be conducted by Portable, while the first 200 fans to enter the stadium on finals day will receive ₦5,000 each. According to officials of Toptier Sports Management, the initiative is designed to celebrate supporter...

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...