I’ve Dankwambo’s backing to revive sports in Gombe- Yarma
What challenges have you faced since you were appointed the Executive Chairman of the newly created Gombe State Sports Commission? A lot but thank God things are beginning to take shape. When I was appointed I discovered that sports in the state was moribund. The previous administration did not do enough to put on ground […]
What challenges have you faced since you were appointed the Executive Chairman of the newly created Gombe State Sports Commission?
A lot but thank God things are beginning to take shape. When I was appointed I discovered that sports in the state was moribund. The previous administration did not do enough to put on ground the right structures for sports development. The most challenging is lack of Physical and Health education graduates to teach sports in schools and also inadequate coaches to give technical direction to the respective sports associations. Furthermore, we found out that all the sporting association had no organizing secretaries. Most of those who were there are either dead or retired. According to available statistics, about 30 staff died in active service and we have many that retired and there have been no replacement. And you and I know that no matter how good your blueprint is, no matter how articulate your strategies are, without the required manpower, you cannot achieve the desired results. You cannot deliver when you do not have the people who would transform the knowledge from paper to reality and these have been my major challenges.
Having identified these challenges, what is your commission doing to overcome them in its bid to revive sports in the state?
Two weeks ago, the commission organized a stakeholders meeting where fruitful deliberations were held and meaningful decisions take to move sports in the state forward. At the meeting,we resolved to recall some of the retired coaches who are still strong to come and give us the necessary support. The commission in collaboration with the ministry of education intends to send them to the primary schools to serve as PHE teachers. Their terms of reference would be to develop certain sports in the primary schools. In the end, we would be organizing inter-school competitions or Inter House sports competitions. We hope to start recruiting budding athletes at this level. It has to be a gradual process and we believe that the coaches would assist. We are also inviting coaches from the other states to come and assist us. We intend to hire them and give them the little we have. I have got coaches from even Plateau State, I got some from Benue State, some from Bauchi State. I think it is a step forward. If you want to start to develop sports you must start from the grassroots.
Does Gombe State have the required sporting facilities to encourage the much talked about grassroots sports development?
It is said even when the desirable is not available, you make the best use of what is available. But the case of Gombe is not very bad. You know we have a befitting stadium and our amiable governor has the intention to build mini-sports centres in each of the 11 local government areas. Secondly we have got the approval of the National Sports Commission to make use of the gigantic multi-purpose indoor sports hall in Gombe. We are presently upgrading the facility. And within the area of the hall, there is enough space to build out-door courts. This would complement the facilities we have at the Pantami stadium. We have plans for development of sporting facilities.
You have laudable plans for development but how much support are you enjoying from the governor?
The governor is doing a lot for the sports commission and sports generally. We in the sports commission are most grateful to him because he has never turned down any of our requests. He has never hesitated before approving any developmental issue brought before him from the sports commission. It is in this light that he approved the hosting of the Gombe State Sports festival. Although what we projected for the festival did not come in time, we are hoping that after the Ramadan fast, we would stage the mini-sports festival. The commission has the full backing of the governor to revive sports in the state. It may interest you to know that sometimes he called just to ask how we are faring and things we need. I don’t think it is every governor that loves sports to this extent. He is a friend to so many sportsmen. I was at the National Sports Commission, and I wanted to tell the Director General, Chief Patrick Ekeji what the governor is doing but he said I know, the governor is my friend. Celestine Babayaro once told me that the governor is his close friend. If my governor is a friend to sports personalities, it is a strong indication that he loves sports with passion.
Finally, just this afternoon, Gombe United was drawn in the same group with defending champions Heartland, Nasarawa United, and Plateau United in this year’s Federation Cup round of 16. What are the chances of Gombe United?
You know we are not new as far as this competition is concerned. If you remember in 2008 we were in Makurdi where we played the finals against Ocean Boys. Unfortunately we lost via penalty shoot out. In the past we represented the country on the continent in both the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup. This is to say Gombe United is not new to elite football. Although every club in the group is no push over, I can tell you that we have got the pre-requisite experience to give them a run for their money.