Tennis star, Dominic Thiem Quit The first match of this year’s US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York will also be remembered as the last Grand Slam match of Dominic Thiem, whose only major title came at Flushing Meadows in 2020. The 30-year-old Austrian lost in the first round to the nine-year-younger American Ben Shelton in two hours 4:6, 2:6, 2:6 and was eliminated. Thiem will end his tennis career at the ATP tournament in October at home in Vienna. WILD CARD .The fact that the former number 3 in the tennis world, now only number 89,…
Author: Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Abdulgafar Oladimeji is a sports writer with over two decades experience in the industry. As a reporter , he has worked with top major Nigerian newspapers, freelancer with newspaper and broadcast media organizations in Africa, Europe and America. He is a well travelled sports journalists reporting major sports events across the globe.
UK new Super League Basketball league nets Reebok supplier deal ahead of inaugural season Super League Basketball (SLB) has inked a league-wide kit supplier deal with US sportswear and footwear brand Reebok. As per the multi-year agreement, Reebok will supply all nine teams with playing and training kits, travel apparel and footwear for the SLB’s inaugural 2024/25 season. The deal includes official kit supplier and basketball sneaker designation. SLB, which launched earlier this month, will replace the British Basketball League (BBL) as the elite tier of UK men’s basketball. This came after the British Basketball Federation terminated the BBL’s operating…
Future stars: Sport England announces £120m fund for aspiring Olympic and Paralympic athletes Sport England has announced a new £120m fund for the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The fresh funding will aim to expand opportunities for young athletes, as well as alleviating inequalities within sport. The fund’s launch comes after the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on 11th August, and ahead of the Paralympic Games, which commence on 28th August. This will be available to athletes over the four-year period from 2025 to 2029. Sport England’s funding is being delivered through its partnerships with…
Morocco 2025: Ekong, Aina, Simon, Ndidi, 19 others to battle Benin Republic, Rwanda , reports for duty Sept 2 Captain William Ekong, wing-back Olaoluwa Aina and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi are back in the Super Eagles’ nest, for next month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda. This year’s AFCON’s Man-of-the-Competition, Ekong, was discountenanced for the Matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying race in June as he was recovering from injury, while Aina, Awoniyi and reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen were out injured altogether. There…
Visa pre-sale begins for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024 Visa pre-sale begins at 9:00 AM local time (15:00 CET) on 27 August and runs until 2 September, after which tickets will be available to the general public Ticket launch marks 50 days until kick-off The historic tournament will begin on 16 October, with the final on 3 November As excitement builds ahead of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024™, set to take place from 16 October to 3 November, Visa cardholders now have the exclusive opportunity to purchase match tickets early through a special pre-sale…
Nigeria has A new football head coach, German born, Bruno Labbadia The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles. NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said in the early hours of Tuesday: “The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Mr. Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. The appointment is with immediate effect.” Born in Darmstadt, Germany on 8th February 1966, Labbadia, who won two caps for Die…
Premier Soccer League (PSL) would kick off, September 14, 2024, the league organizers have disclosed. PSL said “The Betway Premiership will kick-off on the weekend of 14 and 15 September 2024. “The opening day on Saturday, 14 September, will feature six matches, with an additional two fixtures scheduled for Sunday, 15 September. Opening day matches would feature a thriller in Tshwane Derby, with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns trading tackles with rivals SuperSport United. Same day fixtures include Royal AM vs. Cape Town City, Orlando Pirates vs. Chippa United, and Marumo Gallants vs. Kaizer Chiefs. The Saturday evening matches are, Polokwane…
FIFA Funds: Ghana FA constructs new major facilities at Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence Ghana Football Association, GFA has commenced the construction of three new facilities at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence sited in Prampram. The soccer centre which parades, four football pitches, multipurpose hall, administrative blocks, four dormitories will now have an added new projects comprising of gymnasium, futsal arena and swimming pool. The FA disclosed that , the projects were partly funded from FIFA Forward funds. Adding that the new facilities will enhanced players development programmes, couple with mass value to sports growth in the country, explaining…
Nigerian music star, Burna Boy sets up football academy, reality show for grass root footballers By Abdulgafar Oladimeji Popular Nigerian music actor, Burna Boy has established soccer academy for the discovery and nurturing of talented grass root footballers, in his home country, Nigeria. The music icon said the motive behind the establishment of the academy is to give unnoticed talented footballers access to the scarce platform that has denied potential footballers the chance to achieve their dreams of becoming professional players. Checks revealed that the academy will be operating in FCT Abuja and Port Harcourt, the capital city of the…
NPFL referees gets 50 percent wage increase, air travel tickets The management of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL has announced 50 percent wage increase for referees officiating in the league. The honcho of the league, Mr Gbenga Elegbeleye is widely reported to have disclosed the new up rise adjustments in the indemnities of match officials Elegbeleye also laid claims that all owed dues have been paid. He added that trading negotiations are ongoing to secure air transportation for referees and players. He applauded a firm for enabling the payment of referees and staff wages. He also announced that one billion…
