Leadership (Abuja)
Vincent Ekhoragbon
1 October 2008
Gombe State Commissioner for Sports and Culture, Alhaji Ahmed Yayari has insisted that citizens of the state would join athletes from other states to fly Nigeria's flag at London 2012 Olympics.
The commissioner's confidence is built on the recent efforts of Gombe state government towards the development of sporting facilities in the state vis-à-vis talented youths abounding in the state.
Alhaji Yayari made this pronouncement in his office the day representatives of Messrs Chinese Geo-engineering Company CGC put pen on paper for the construction of the 10,750 capacity Gombe Township Stadium.
"Very soon, we will have our sports festival and do many other things with a view to discovering young talents and groom them for future challenges."
The sports administrator also expressed confidence that Gombe United would once again prove bookmakers wrong at the end of the soccer league season by grabbing another champion's league ticket.
He explained that the 75weeks contractual period for the construction of the stadium was a calculated plan to ensure that completion period tallies with the champions league kick-off in 2010.
He added that the decision to construct the much smaller arena rather than the famous Abubakar Umar Memorial was rooted in the consideration that tampering the latter would automatically deny fans and supporters of Gombe United the opportunity of seeing their darling team play at their doorsteps.
Besides, "we are hopeful that construction of that one due to the overweighing demand would commence after this one has been completed but maybe by subsequent administration," Yayari stressed.
"The ultimate target of the Goje's administration is to ensure that athletes from Gombe state represent Nigeria at London 2012 Olympics and that could only be accomplished through developed facilitates.
That is why we are leaving no stone unturned in the area of players' motivation and facilities development".
Work that has begun on the Gombe Township Stadium is valued at N2.95billion approved on September 16 with Messrs CGC and Associate Design Consult emerging the construction firm and consultants after the due process provisions.
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