BY UZOR ODIGBO
As the 7th National Youth Games beckons, Gombe State is probably the only participating state from the North East that will contest for medals in just one discipline – athletics.
The Gombe State Sports Commission had trials for the Games, but the state government did not release funds for the anticipated contingent.
The athletics team will be featuring owing to the philanthropy of Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe who is sponsoring over 25 athletes and officials through his athletics academy.
Prince Simon Ayuba, the director of the academy and technical assistant to Alhaji Gara Gombe, told TheNiche that the gesture was to avert a total absence of the state at the games.
He was of the opinion that sending the athletics team will enable them to get the necessary exposure and to strengthen
their bond with fellow youths in the spirit of “One Nigeria’.
” We are ready to participate at the National Youth Games but not too crazy about winning medals, if medals come, we will thank God, Ayuba told TheNiche newspaper.