05 November 2007
NIGERIA : The Face of Sports Development in Gombe State (2)
There was a time in the history of Gombe State when we had one of the best teams in Basketball in Nigeria, The Gombe Bulls.
In the entire north, there were three basketball teams that were outstanding namely: Kano Pillars of Kano, Niger Potters of Minna and Gombe Bulls of Gombe. Unfortunately, our Gombe Bulls are dead and those who signed their death warrant are still in-charge of our sports in Gombe State. Mal. Ibrabim Gimba (Alias Dogo Basket) and Kawu, the Gombe Local Government Sports officer are in fact, the pillars of the team; they are now being describe as enemies of the state, imagine.
The story is not different in football. Five years ago, Gombe state had 13 teams playing in various divisions in the National Amateur football league. We were only second to F.C.T and ahead of Lagos State. But today, we only have three; this is one of the most unfortunate trends in our sports history. The sale of Black Stars F.C. is one of the darkest moments of our football history too. Football develops when there is quality opposition; because the desire to remain relevant and capture the fans. Loyalty will be there. Black Stars F.C. provided the much needed rivalry to Gombe United Football Club, whenever the two teams were on pitch, they represented what is called "local Derby" in true sense of it. But because of lack of foresight, ambition coupled with greed, one character called Auwal Musa (chensinq) sold our collective pride and four years after, he has not made any effort to either bring up another team or buy another club with the sales' proceeds to replace Black Stars F.C.
As it is today, Gombe State can not boast of a single lane track for athletics. Four years ago I was a member of Gombe State sports council board. When we were preparing for the National Sports Festival in Benin, I asked a question during one of our board meetings. I said we should stay away from the festival and begin preparation for the next one. Some of the board members asked why. I said because Gombe State was not ready for a National Sports Festival. The then Director of sports, Jauro Degri, said we were ready. I said he should brief the board about our level of preparation. He said our swimmers were training at Dadin Kowa, that is River Gongola, the basketball team were In Kaltungo, the hockey team were in Deba, the athletics team were in Pantami. The board directed that the sports council should assemble all the teams and athletes so that we would directly talk to them and understand their problems, if any, before departing for Benin. I offered to pay for the transportation of the teams which I eventually did. But we never saw an athlete before departing to Benin. Governor Hashidu approved N13m for the Benin Festival. I remember I wrote him a personal memo not to waste tax payes' money. We went to Benin. We finished second to the last behind Abia State who did not participate at all. So, technically, Gombe State came last.
The situation was not different in Abeokuta. Gombe State put up one of the worst and embarrassing participation. When we were preparing for Abeokuta (gateway games), I advised that for any meaningful preparation to take place, we must review the reports of the previous sports festivals Gombe State participated in. Since, the creation of Gombe state till date, I don't think there is any report on the state participation in National Sports Festivals and if there is any, I challenge the sports council or the ministry of sports to publish them. At Abeokuta, the states contingent performed the match past of the opening ceremony with bathroom slippers.
It is embarrassing to note that Gombe State won only a medal in Dambe (Local Wrestling). Till today, the athlete has not been recognised neither an appreciation shown to him for his feat. Talking about appreciation, a generation of young boys from Gombe State went to Manchester in England and won the Manchester under 17 world football tournament. No one bothered to inform the government that those boys needed to be honoured for doing the state and country proud. Similarly, their contemporaries won the shell cup in Port Harcourt, the euphoria of winning the cup died down in Port Harcourt because there was no official of the state's sports council or the ministry that could tell the government that these boys needed special recognition. As a result many of those boys have abandoned football which, had they been encouraged and motivated, could have improved their career, their life and that of their families. Even those who were looking up to them as models have abandoned their desires. This is part of the tragedy of our sports In Gombe state. It was two years after I assembled them during that the Gombe State challenge cup finals for his excellency, the executive governor to meet them.
Some individuals were outstanding in their contributions to the development of sports in Gombe State, some of them are no more and may their gentle soul rest in peace Amen.
In the entire north, there were three basketball teams that were outstanding namely: Kano Pillars of Kano, Niger Potters of Minna and Gombe Bulls of Gombe. Unfortunately, our Gombe Bulls are dead and those who signed their death warrant are still in-charge of our sports in Gombe State. Mal. Ibrabim Gimba (Alias Dogo Basket) and Kawu, the Gombe Local Government Sports officer are in fact, the pillars of the team; they are now being describe as enemies of the state, imagine.
The story is not different in football. Five years ago, Gombe state had 13 teams playing in various divisions in the National Amateur football league. We were only second to F.C.T and ahead of Lagos State. But today, we only have three; this is one of the most unfortunate trends in our sports history. The sale of Black Stars F.C. is one of the darkest moments of our football history too. Football develops when there is quality opposition; because the desire to remain relevant and capture the fans. Loyalty will be there. Black Stars F.C. provided the much needed rivalry to Gombe United Football Club, whenever the two teams were on pitch, they represented what is called "local Derby" in true sense of it. But because of lack of foresight, ambition coupled with greed, one character called Auwal Musa (chensinq) sold our collective pride and four years after, he has not made any effort to either bring up another team or buy another club with the sales' proceeds to replace Black Stars F.C.
As it is today, Gombe State can not boast of a single lane track for athletics. Four years ago I was a member of Gombe State sports council board. When we were preparing for the National Sports Festival in Benin, I asked a question during one of our board meetings. I said we should stay away from the festival and begin preparation for the next one. Some of the board members asked why. I said because Gombe State was not ready for a National Sports Festival. The then Director of sports, Jauro Degri, said we were ready. I said he should brief the board about our level of preparation. He said our swimmers were training at Dadin Kowa, that is River Gongola, the basketball team were In Kaltungo, the hockey team were in Deba, the athletics team were in Pantami. The board directed that the sports council should assemble all the teams and athletes so that we would directly talk to them and understand their problems, if any, before departing for Benin. I offered to pay for the transportation of the teams which I eventually did. But we never saw an athlete before departing to Benin. Governor Hashidu approved N13m for the Benin Festival. I remember I wrote him a personal memo not to waste tax payes' money. We went to Benin. We finished second to the last behind Abia State who did not participate at all. So, technically, Gombe State came last.
The situation was not different in Abeokuta. Gombe State put up one of the worst and embarrassing participation. When we were preparing for Abeokuta (gateway games), I advised that for any meaningful preparation to take place, we must review the reports of the previous sports festivals Gombe State participated in. Since, the creation of Gombe state till date, I don't think there is any report on the state participation in National Sports Festivals and if there is any, I challenge the sports council or the ministry of sports to publish them. At Abeokuta, the states contingent performed the match past of the opening ceremony with bathroom slippers.
It is embarrassing to note that Gombe State won only a medal in Dambe (Local Wrestling). Till today, the athlete has not been recognised neither an appreciation shown to him for his feat. Talking about appreciation, a generation of young boys from Gombe State went to Manchester in England and won the Manchester under 17 world football tournament. No one bothered to inform the government that those boys needed to be honoured for doing the state and country proud. Similarly, their contemporaries won the shell cup in Port Harcourt, the euphoria of winning the cup died down in Port Harcourt because there was no official of the state's sports council or the ministry that could tell the government that these boys needed special recognition. As a result many of those boys have abandoned football which, had they been encouraged and motivated, could have improved their career, their life and that of their families. Even those who were looking up to them as models have abandoned their desires. This is part of the tragedy of our sports In Gombe state. It was two years after I assembled them during that the Gombe State challenge cup finals for his excellency, the executive governor to meet them.
Some individuals were outstanding in their contributions to the development of sports in Gombe State, some of them are no more and may their gentle soul rest in peace Amen.
# posted by afrbk : 12:52
