BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
The Gombe Inter Secondary Schools Athletics championship and Gombe Principal’s Cup have come and gone but the focus is how Chairman Gombe Athletics Association, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe singlehandedly sponsored a week programme to empower more than 3,000 students in the state without government or private support.
Our correspondent who was in Gombe for the Inter Secondary Schools Athletics championship and Principals’Cup observed that more than 31 Secondary schools from various part of the state participated in the week long programme.
The championship was not only for public schools, it also involved private schools.15 private and 16 public secondary schools competed for various athletics track and field event.
Two days to the commencement of the Athletics Championship, participants began to arrive in the game village in readiness for the championship.Our correspondent who visited the camp observed that the camp was well furnished and all necessary things that make athletes comfortable were put in place by the organisers.
The students athletes were not fed three times in a day, they were also excited with the facilities put in the game village.The sport officers of various schools including members of the various committes and journalists were not left out with this hospitality courtesy of Gara Gombe.
Gara Gombe who is passionate about sports development in the state sponsored the championship and Principals’Cup in conjunction with Green White Green Sport and Gombe State Athletics Association.
During the student athletes farewell party organised by Gara Gombe, the students commended the organisers for this initiative and thanked Gara Gombe for accommodating them during the event, while others admonished the sponsor to organise the programme annually.
Some students were emotional and burst into tears while Gara Gombe was addressing them in hausa language talking about his journey of life and challenges confronted him before the championship.
Gara Gombe who is also a sport administrator told journalists that he singlehandedly sponsored the programme without the financial support from government, private organisations and individuals.
“I have notified my programme to those who are concerned in Gombe State and there was no response. I can say that during thecompetition I have not received financial support from Gombe State Government.
“Let me say that the Patanmi Township Stadium we used for the programme was paid for.The secondary school the government asked us to use for Game village was renovated to the standard by my humbled self.
“I also sent a letter of invitation to Athletic Federation of Nigeria, AFN, concerning this programme and none of AFN member was at our programme.You would now agree with me that I did not get support from anybody and I know what I am saying,”he said.
Against all odds, Gara Gombe made the opening ceremony a colourful and glamorous one by inviting a popular Katsina artist, Maryam Saad who performed very well well as thousands of student athletes were thrilled with the Maryam song at the stadium.
Gara Gombe who was at the stadium with some other invited guests and officials was excited as he danced with Maryam on the stage to make the opening ceremony a memorable one.
Some of the students who visited the stadium for the first time were also excited and impressed with the superb organization put in place by the organisers.
“I am happy to be part of this opening ceremony.I.like Maryam song and I am excited with the crowd gathered here at the stadium.i.wish to come here next edition,”said a female student who is in SS 2 class.
There is no doubt that a week programme brought the best out of the athletes as some future athletes were discovered both in athletics championship and Principals’Cup that may represent Gombe in future national competitions.
Gara Gombe used the championship and Principals’Cup to promote and develop sports at the grassroots level among the schools in the state.
Gara Gombe had not sponsored the programme for popularity or personal gain,but the love and passion he has for grassroots sports motivated him to empower thousands of students in Gombe through sports.
