Gara Gombe: Redefining Grassroots Athletics Competition In Gombe State

Alhaji Shuaibu Gara Gombe, the Special Assistant to Gombe State Governor on Information and Strategy is a man who has and is still paying his due in sport development in the country.

The former Chairman, Gombe State Football Association and ex Special adviser to Kano State Government on Sports has since this year devoted his time, resources in organising athletics completions in his home state as thousands of spectators including school children thronged the Pantami Stadium in Gombe to witness the maiden edition of Dr. Ahmed Gara Shuaibu Gombe AthIetics Grand Prix.

The competition which brought together athletes in and around the Gombe metropolis was keenly contested in 100m, 400m, 1500m, long jump and 4×100m relay boys and girls.

The Gombe State Amateur Athletics Association (GSAAA), also staged some demonstrations events during the one day event.

The competition is the first of its kind at the Pantami Stadium and a good number of students and pupils attended the grand prix sponsored by the chairman of GSAAA, Dr. Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe.

The competition was tailored, and dedicated to meets the need of the huge number of kids in attendance and was also aimed at rekindling their interest in the sport that has the power and potential to launch their sporting career at a very tender age.

The sponsor of the competition, Alhaji Gara Gombe, stated that packaging the competition with a few AthIetics events is aimed at arousing the interest of young athletes mostly school kids who form the bulk of young talents that the state and the country needs.

“It’s our hope that after the kids had watched the athIetics events, they will develop interest in the sport and finally embrace it, this would also make them take their education seriously and cut off street hawking and other vices.” Honourable Ahmed Gombe added.

Dignitaries from all works of life, including politics, education, business, showbiz and the sporting circle graced the august occasion.

Nigeria’s marathon legend, Abass Mohammed, Chairman Gombe State Sports Commission, Director of notable schools and politicians witnessed the event.

Most of the dignitaries in attendance extolled the virtue of the sponsor and organiser of the event and promised to make their individual contributions to the effort of CATCHING THEM YOUNG project of the Chairman Gombe State Amateur AthIetics Association.

During the grand prix event, the Gombe State chapter of National Association of Technical Officials (NAATO) was inaugurated after their training and refresher course.

Twelve members our of 70 participants in the training were endorsed as executives of the chapter and were immediately sworn in by NAATO’s national first vice president.

Coaches that anchored the event include,

Dr. Alex Miana, Mohammed Kolo, Solomon Achi, Simon Ayuba, Abass Mohammed, NAATO secretary among others.

In his remarks after their inauguration, Honourable Gara Gombe demanded loyalty and absolute seriousness in their conduct as individual and as a unit, pointing out that their determination would spur others to join them to make athIetics officiating in Gombe State successful.

This is the second Competition to be staged in Gombe State less than four months since the seasoned sport administrator, business man and a social as well as political commentator, Alhaji Gara Gombe was appointed chairman of GSAAA, late last year by governor Inuwa Yahaya.

The chairman of GSAAA also rewarded members of the State Athletics team to the 21st National Sports Festival tagged Delta 2022 despite their not too impressive showing.

Gara Gombe, stressed that, in rewarding them, it will go a long way is lifting their spirit and morale to do more in their chosen career path.