Sports

Gara Gombe Faults Sports Minister Plan Meet With NFF Presidential Candidates

Published

3 years ago

September 26, 2022

… Accuses aspirants of desperation
Joel Ajayi
Special Adviser to Gombe State governor on strategy and information management, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, has faulted the move by the minister of youth and sports development, Mr Sunday Dare, to meet with all presidential candidates of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

With the elective congress of the NFF slated for Friday in Benin City threatened by court’s order order restraining the body from holding the elections, Sports Minister Dare has called for a meeting of all the 11 presidential candidates in his office at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja today.

According to Gara Gombe, the meeting is unnecessary, saying the presidential candidates of NFF have no connection with the Sports Minister because he is not the electoral umpire.

“Why are they meeting the minister of sports and for what? Did he buy their forms and what connection do they have with him? Is he the one conducting the elections?” Gara asked rhetorically.

“The minister deceived us with a masterplan, promised implementation of it before elections, he promised LMC will be dissolved, nothing happens. The same way the minister bungled the basketball ban with all the collateral damages he will do the same with football. I used to have pity for him before but not anymore.”

The former chairman Gombe State Football Association (GSFA) also accused the candidates of NFF elections of desperation. “These same aspirants who want to rule our football went and signed one of the most senseless undertakings in the history of elections in the world.

“One of the criteria to contest is an undertaking in the form of an affidavit that they ‘waived irrevocably’ their rights and privilege to contest the outcome of the elections in a regular court of law.

“The same right guaranteed them by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They now abandoned it and transferred it to an ad hoc committee.

“There is a court order against the elections, yet they keep campaigning, preparing as if there is no law in this country. The same situation that we found ourselves in making them want to contest the election. No difference between all of them and Amaju, sadly some of them are lawyers. Now if any of them wins he will run to FIFA for protection,” Gara stated.

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Sports

From Streets to Stardom: Unique Futbol Academy Scouting Program Inspires Ibadan’s Young Footballers

Published

15 hours ago

November 4, 2025

The Gleamer

Ibadan is buzzing with excitement as the Unique Football Academy Scouting Program kicks off, bringing together top European football clubs and talented young Nigerian players.

The four-day program, which commenced on Monday, features a delegation of four directors from prominent European teams, including two from Kosovo and one from India, led by renowned football agent Diego Martins from Portugal.

The scouting program aims to identify and select outstanding players who will be given opportunities to showcase their skills in Europe.

Successful players will be offered the chance to take their careers to the next level, with the organizers assuring them of opportunities abroad.

According to the Director of the program and founder of Unique Football Academy, Mr. Jelil Oladimeji, this is not the first time the academy has organized such an event.

“This is the 4th edition, and we are proud of the progress and impact we have made so far in terms of exposing our raw talent to the European market,” he said.

The program has already proven successful, with several players from previous editions going on to excel in European leagues. Some notable examples include Haruna Saleh with PAOK in Greece and Praisegod Emersons in Slovakia.

As the program continues, clubs are gearing up to exhibit their talents, and the future looks bright for Nigeria’s young football stars.

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