Nationwide League: Senator Yaro provides financial support to clubs in Gombe South
Distinguished Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, Senator representing Gombe South District has made a cash donation to three clubs from his Zone to enable them participate in the Nationwide League, Division Two.
These clubs are Balanga United from Balanga, United Eagles from Shongom and El-Shama Sporting from Billiri.
Presenting the cash gift on Saturday to the clubs’ officials on behalf of the senator, Mr Barbuwa kalla, said the gesture was borne out of the senator’s need to represent all sectors of life in the zone.
Kalla said that the Senator being a youth-friendly leader decided to support the clubs to enable them participate in the Nationwide League towards engaging youths in the area into venture that could help them realise their potentials in life.
“Senator Yaro is a leader that believes in representing all sectors from agriculture, water, security, health, empowerment, education and now sports; this is what his mind-set about representation is.
“ He believes in carrying everyone along based on his mandate of inclusive representation to enhance the wellbeing and welfare of people in the zone.”
The Senator called on the benefitting clubs to be of good conduct and project the zone in good light by giving their best always while assuring youths from the zone that he would continue to support meaningful ventures that empower the young people of Gombe South.
Mr Hashim Ismail, Welfare Director, Balanga United commended Senator Yaro for bailing them out with the financial support, noting that it was the first time such support was coming their way.
Ismail said without the support, “We would have suffered a lot because we have been suffering some years back but this support is a big relief for us and we thank the Distinguished Senator for his kind gesture,” he said.
Speaking shortly after the cash donation, the Chairman of Gombe State Football Association (FA), Yakubu Sarma lauded the senator for being kind to youths and promoting football development in the zone.
Sarma said football development remained everybody’s business, and all stakeholders needed to put hand on deck to move the game forward.
He said that recently, the Gombe State government supported all the teams playing in the Nationwide League One and two, paying their registration with the NLO and now what they (clubs) are paying are the indemnities and some other logistics that needed to be paid before they can kick-start.
“These teams are being run by individuals and not the government so they require this kind of assistance and today, the Distinguished Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, Senator representing Gombe South Senatorial District, paid for those clubs in his constituencies.
“This is done so that money will not be their challenge; so with this money, these clubs will be able to pay for their indemnities.
“This is the first of its kind, and it’s a good gesture that will also serve as a good antecedent to cite in the future,” he said.
The FA boss appealed to other stakeholders to emulate Senator Yaro by supporting football clubs, “specifically I urge stakeholders to come to the aid of Yamaltu United, Lion Heart, and Dukku United who are yet to pay theirs.
He said football remained the best tool to unite people and promote peaceful coexistence, “because football does not have political parties, religions, ethnicities, or tribe.
“So this is a plus for Senator Yaro, and the football stakeholders are proud of this move which has provided the support that could help raise young talents in the likes of Ahmed Musa, Mike Obi, Kanu Nwankwo from these teams.
“If these clubs are not able to pay for their indemnities and not participate, they may most likely go on relegation
“If that happens they will go back to state league and that can make Gombe State loss some slots and that is why we are calling on stakeholders to help them pay so that we can retain the slots.
“In the past, the whole of the clubs we had in League One and Two were not more than eight but today we have about 15 teams, so we are improving,” he said.
