Zubairu Usman Why I sacked board of Kaduna United

What are you doing to ensure that Kaduna State regains her lost glory in sports?We are doing our best to move sports forward in Kaduna State. I am working with all the relevant stakeholders. Since no man is an island, I have been in constant touch with my technical staff and other sports enthusiasts. We […]

What are you doing to ensure that Kaduna State regains her lost glory in sports?
We are doing our best to move sports forward in Kaduna State. I am working with all the relevant stakeholders. Since no man is an island, I have been in constant touch with my technical staff and other sports enthusiasts. We are not only preaching ‘catch them young’, we are actually practising the policy. Although it has been challenging, very soon, the fruits of our labour would begin to manifest. And if we can improve our facilities in all the 23 Local Government we can achieve a lot. We want the Governor to approve our memos to improve all the stadia.
Why did you dissolve the former board of Kaduna United?
When I came into office, I met many petitions and many excuses, and I asked Governor Yero to give me the approval to dissolve the board of directors of Kaduna United which he did without any objection. I dissolved them and set-up a caretaker committee for the mean-time.
So what else have you done in your capacity as commissioner of sports to reposition Kaduna United?
We have complied with the Local Management Committee, LMC guidelines as we now have a new General Manager in the person of former international, Garba Lawal. There were also some changes in the technical crew. You know sometimes it is not good to bring about drastic changes.
Have you set any target for the club?
The minimum target for the club is to remain in the topflight. But it will be good if the team reciprocates government support by winning a continental ticket. As former Federation Cup champions, we are also expecting the club to do well in this year’s competition. The government is ever willing to render all the necessary support.
How is Kaduna State preparing for the forth coming National Sports Festival?
Our desire is to surpass our performance in the previous National Sports Festival that Lagos State hosted. We want to set up a committee to fish-out grassroot talents from the 23 Local Governments for the festival. We do not believe in using mercenaries. Most of our athletes are home grown. It will interest you to know that at the end of the maiden edition of the National Youth games which held in Abuja late last year, 17 athletes from Kaduna State have been invited to camp to represent Nigeria in the youth Olympics. Furthermore, two of our coaches have been invited to the national camp.
Most times commissioners of sports lean more towards football to the detriment of other sports. Are you going to be another commissioner for football?
No, not at all. I am a commissioner for Youth and Sports and not just football. I give equal attention to Basketball, football, Hockey, Lawn Tennis, Boxing, Taekwondo, Langa and we will participate in all the sports in Calabar. Even the Nigerian Hockey Federation had been granted permission to come and train in Kaduna as our pitch is standard. We want hockey to be revived in Nigeria and not only in Kaduna as we have one of the best hockey teams in Nigeria.
Apart from government funding, what are you doing to attract corporate sponsorship for sports in Kaduna State?
Government has been most supportive but it cannot do it alone. Sports is capital intensive. Therefore we have been trying to get across to corporate organisations for them to extend their corporate social responsibly to us for sports development. As we now have sustained peace in the state, they have to partner with us. We have written to them to come to our aid and reduce the burden on the govt.
What role do you think sports can play in curbing most of the prevalent social vices among the youths?
Sports if positively used can help in combating crime among the youths. It is said an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Youths that are positively engaged in sports won’t have the time to think or engage in criminal acts. It is in this regard that we are collaborating with the ministry of education to encourage sporting activities in schools. The youth must be kept busy.
Do you have the required manpower to help you accomplish your plans for sports in Kaduna State?
I have good rapport with all my staff. I have been able to inspire them and they are willing to go the extra mile. I make sure issues pertaining to their welfare are handled with the utmost attention.