By Rabilu Abubakar, Gombe
Gombe state Government is doing well in promoting the sporting activities in spite the lack of passion for the game in the Northern part of the country.
Some of the reasons the Northern part of this country is lagging behind in sports include the fact that most of the commissioners of sports are not sports-friendly and lacked the technical know-how and the needed interest to drive sports in their domains.
Sports is one area that when properly harnessed can help address poverty and idleness amongst our numerous youths roaming the streets.
To worsen the matter, some governors in the North see sports as a waste of resources as they only release funds without getting profit in return, and our culture/ tradition / religion also play vital role in the neglect of sports in the region which would have contributed alot of the economy of the region and help drive poverty alleviation campaigns in most of the states.
When contacted the Chairman Gombe state Sports Commission Malam Hamza Adamu Soye, said some governors in the north they pay more attention in the area of infrastructure, that is the reason why sporting activities is lagging behind.
Hamza Soye, added that lack of partnership with companies, industries in all the states would be considered as a challenge because almost in all the states there’s at least one or two companies but they don’t help in promoting sporting activities.
Furthermore in the north they don’t take sports as professional as it is in other parts of the country.
The way forward
Soye called for proper orientation and enlightenment on the value and importance of sports especially amongst the elite, companies, industries, adding that such would help address the present challenge in sporting activities in the north.
Added that if these companies and other agencies would be assisting the sporting activities everything would be developed.
He, therefore, said the Gombe state Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, is doing his best by providing the needed assistance to promote sporting activities, noting that recently the governor donated a brand new bus to Gombe united Football Club and promised upward review of their monthly allowance by 66 per cent from the previous amount of N12million to N20million.
