By Ado Salisu
The Royal Organising Committee has appointed coordinators for the forthcoming Gombe State Emir’s Cup Football Competition, representing 15 emirates, chiefdoms, and traditional councils across the state.
The inauguration took place at the Medical and Health Workers Union Secretariat, Federal Low Cost, in Gombe Metropolis.
Chairman of the Royal Organising Committee, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, led the proceedings alongside the Vice Chairman, Alhaji Auwal Umar, and other committee members.
The exercise forms part of preparations for the upcoming football competition following a successful trophy tour by the committee to all the 15 emirates, chiefdoms, and traditional councils across the state.
The competition is aimed at promoting peace, discovering football talents at the grassroots level, and strengthening unity among traditional institutions across Gombe State.
The appointed coordinators and their respective emirates, chiefdoms, and traditional councils include
Umar Garba Kenya, Nafada Emirate,
Aliyu Lamid, Funakaye Emirate, Muhammad Musa Baba, Akko Emirate, Ibrahim Mohammed Suleiman,Kaltungo Traditional Council
Malam Hashimu, Ibrahim, Gombe Emirate, Salisu Shuaibu Umar – Dadiya Traditional Council, Ibrahim Manzo – Pindiga Emirate, Sani Babayo – Tula Traditional Council, Malam Hassan Bebeto – Gona Emirate, Abubakar Magaji – Dukku Emirate, Sharu Garba Sidi – Yamaltu Emirate
Kudemcy Abubakar – Deba Emirate, Babawuro Mohammed – Cham Chiefdom, Jamilu Rabiu – Tangale Chiefdom, Ibrahim Yahaya Sambo – Waja Chiefdom
The coordinators were appointed through a transparent process in which each participant picked a ballot to determine the emirate, chiefdom, or traditional council they would coordinate.
The committee urged the coordinators to work closely with football teams within their respective jurisdictions and guide them on all aspects of the rules and regulations governing the competition.
Meanwhile, four centres have been designated for the preliminary rounds of the competition.
The centres are Bajoga, Deba, Gombe Metropolis, and Kaltungo.
The draw for the competition, as well as training for referees on the use of the Video Assistant Referee system for the tournament, will be the next activities on the Royal Organising Committee’s programme ahead of the official kickoff.
Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe advised the coordinators to demonstrate professionalism and adhere strictly to the rules guiding the competition, warning that anyone found violating the regulations will be summarily dismissed.