Sports

How Our inputs, lifted Gombe United FC Sports Commission- Ex Chairman

Published

3 years ago

July 13, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The immediate past Chairman of Gombe State Sports Commission, Honourable Dr. Larry Daniel, has disclosed that his positive impact indeed lifted the struggling Gombe United, as well as Sport Commission in the the state.

The ex-player, Dr Daniel, also identified self discipline, commitment, hardwork as well as his love for grassroots development as the tools used during his tenure to bring the desired tremendous success to the Commission.

There is no doubt, the Ex-Chairman left no stone unturned to ensure growth and development of sports in Gombe state.

Speaking on Wednesday, during the interview segment with presenters on the largest network of Radio Nigeria, the former Nigerian player explained how he brought struggled Gombe United from relegation, to be on sixth position on the Nigeria Professional Football League.

“Before I became Executive Chairman of Gombe United Sports Commission- after 12 years of leaving sports, because I am a business man, I was called that Gombe United needed experienced people like me, and this is a club that is darling to me, I don’t want it to die.

“And I can’t forget to mention the immense contribution of Senator Haruna Garba, he has done tremendously to make sure Gombe United stay up till today. When the Governor, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, called him to ask, what can be done to Gombe United to ensure its existence? He said, Dr Larry Daniel should be brought to Gombe United to be continued.

“And today I want to thank God that when we came in as a Board in 2020, during (COVID period), Gombe United was already relegated to second division NNL, but I want to tell you that throughout Gombe United’s stay in NNL, we never lost a single match both home and away, even we were superb at Super 8 as well, and we got promotion back into NPFL.

“And in the first year, we played in NPFL, our performance was good, we came sixth position on NPFL’s table out of 20 teams, even in abridged league 38 games, we came 7th.

“Before we came, the club was struggling, we revived the club and brought it back to number one league.”

Highlighting some of the measures he put in place as the chairman, Dr Larry revealed: ” when I came on board, I looked at what and what to be done. The first thing we did was to ensure there is water at every corner of the stadium.

“We discovered there was no water, the two bolehole were not working in the last 7 years during the previous administration, and in the rule of sports, you can never operate any sports without water.

“Today, in Gombe, every part of the Sports Commission has water.

“Also, we fixed the issues of toilets to stop open defecation that had been happening before we came, in just one year, we built 8 toilets.

“Not only that, we started aggressive campaign for grassroots development, through ministry of education, we went to all Primary and Secondary schools, because during our period, most great athletes were discovered at grassroot level and as I am speaking to you, it’s yeilding tremendous result.”

When asked to compare athletes of today and his playing days? He replied: “Those days, we had good commitment, we stayed together with one mind and not playing too much for the money, even to wear the jersey alone was enough respect.

We trained ourselves, we don’t even wait for coaches to train us, we train like professionals during our playing days, we were committed and we always want result but today, the case is different.”

The former Gombe United player, therefore, urged youth in the State and Country at large to be committed to everything they are doing saying, the future is bright for committed athletes.

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Sports

Kukkiwon President Hails Popoola’s Impact on Nigerian Taekwondo, NTF Boss Celebrates One Year of Progress

Published

6 hours ago

October 28, 2026

The Gleamer

The President of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria, Grand Master Tayo Popoola has received a letter of commendation from the president of Kukkiwon, Yun Ung- Suk, for her outstanding contribution to the development of the sport.

Grand Master Popoola was hailed for her consistent drive improving the game within a short time of her stewardship in the NTF and the dissemination of Taekwondo activities in Nigeria to the global space.

The commendation letter dated October 25, 2026, was personally signed by Kukkiwon President, Ung-Suk.

Popoola said the commendation came to her as a pleasant surprise.

“I did not see that coming but It is a good one not only for me but the entire federation. I did not do it alone and it is also a challenge to do much more in the days, weeks and months ahead. I thank all the board members and I am optimistic that we will do more for the athletes,” Popoola said.

Incidentally, it is just about one year in office for Grand Master Popoola who has recorded a string of successes in the federation including the National Open Trials in Abeokuta, the Africa Taekwondo Championship 2026 in Bamako Mali where Nigeria won several Medals, the first ever Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele National Taekwondo Championship which took place last month in Lagos and the recently held Korean Ambassador Cup in Abuja which also had in attendance the World Kukkiwon Demonstration team.

The demonstration team dazzled fans in Abuja with spectacular display only last weekend just as the para-athletes in taekwondo were duly classified by experts from the world body in preparation for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028.

“I want to thank the National Sports Commission for the support given to me and the entire NTF. Things can only get better,” Popoola stressed.

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