Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state, has acknowledged the colossal potency of football for economic prosperity of players and nations.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu made the remark this Tuesday at the cabinet office Birnin Kebbi while receiving the trophy won by the Kebbi state All Stars Football team.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Babale Umar Yauri, the governor made it clear that soccer has gone beyond common sport or game or physical exercise but has now become a highly economic commodity.
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu gave an assurance that his administration would sustain moral and material support to sporting activities in the state aimed at discovering talents to compete and excel at national and international sports arena.
The Governor commended the Kebbi State All Starts Football team for winning the coveted trophy, named, Sardauna Unity Cup competed among the nineteen northern states.
The trophy was presented to the governor by the State Chairman, Nigerian Football Federation NFF who is the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Abubakar Chika Ladan, assisted by the patron of the club, the Special Adviser on power to the Governor, Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rasheed, Sardaunan Gwandu, and the Chairman of the Club, Alhaji Nura Abdullahi Koko.
In his comment, the NFF Chairman, Alhaji A.C Ladan, thanked Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his financial support to the All Stars Football Team without which the team could not have been able to achieve the feat.
Alhaji A.C Ladan acknowledged that since the advent of present administration, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has revived and rekindled games and sports that led to the formation of Kebbi United Football Club designed to represent the state in professional football at national and international levels.
In addition, the governor gave the approval for the establishment of a football academy to train and discover young talents as future professional footballers.
He announced that two training coaches for the academy from Portugal have arrived Abuja, Nigeria, and were on their way to Birnin Kebbi to commence action.
The NFF Chairman was delighted that football players from Kebbi state have excelled in professional leagues, such as Zaidu Sanusi, playing for FC Porto in Portugal while Suleiman Garba was invited to be part of Nigeria’s Olympic team and played for the country in Costa Rica.
In addition, four players were invited by professional clubs in Egypt while two others were invited for trials by Sporting Lisbon Football club in Portugal with positive results.
The Chairman of the Kebbi State All Stars Football team, Alhaji Nura Abdullahi Koko thanked Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the patron of the club, Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rasheed and the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Babale Umar Yauri for their support that galvanized the team to win the Sardauna Unity Trophy.
Alhaji Nura Koko explained that the All Stars Football team comprised of veteran players from various clubs in Kebbi state from the age of forty and above.
The Secretary of the team, Mallam Muhammadu Shehu Bunza said the Kebbi State All Stars Football Team defeated their Nassarawa State counterparts in the final match played in Lafia in a penalty shoot-out by six goals to five.
Among top government officials at the presentation of the trophy, were the acting Head of Service, Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena, Commissioner, Alhaji Maigari Abdullahi Dakingari, the Special Adviser on Power to the Governor, Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rasheed, Sardaunan Gwandu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Alhaji Malami Shekare, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, Alhaji Dahiru Zaki, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar Bunza, and the acting Permanent Secretary in the office of the Head of Service, Alhaji Suleiman Sani Augie.
