By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
A total of 100 Sports personnel drawn from the 20 LGAs of Bauchi State and other relevant sports agencies have commenced a 3-day stakeholders meeting on refresher course.
The refresher course was organized by the State Ministry of Youths and Sports Development in an effort to improve and promote the sporting activities preparatory to the State Sports Festival scheduled to hold before the end of the year.
Addressing the participants, the Commissioner of Youths and Sports Development, Muhammad Salis Gamawa said that the refresher course is targeting local government sports officers, coaches, referees, organizing secretaries and other stakeholders in sports development in the state.
The Commissioner, represented by the Overseeing Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Nasiru Usman, explained that the training will impact the knowledge required from the participants in handling their respective duties.
He urged them to engage actively in the entire exercise in order to equip themselves with knowledge required to run sports affairs which is a specialised area.
In his goodwill message, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Ibrahim Kashim said that, after many years, the second edition of Bauchi State Sports Festival will be organized to revive the sports sector in the state.
Ibrahim Kashim, represented by SA General Duties, Alhaji Hashimu Kumbala, explained that the festival would help in promoting sports activities and infrastructure from the grassroot.
He equally challenged the Ministry to ensure the return of the only state football club, Wikki Tourists FC back to Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL as soon as possible.
On his part, Director sports Bauchi State Sports Council, Usman Yusuf Danbala said that the sports festival would give them the opportunity to discover many talents that will represent the state at zonal, national and international competitions.
Usman Yusuf applauded the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed for supporting sports development activities in the state.
He said that, in the last one year the Ministry had got approval of to participate in not fewer than Twenty- two games and also won six gold medals recently, in addition to allowing the organisation of the 2024 state sports festival.
Two papers were presented by Coach Ali Gator and Coach Kolo Mohammed on Sport Psychology and Coaching Techniques respectively, in a way to equip the participants and building the understanding of the nitty greety of sports development throughout the state
Some of the participants interviewed, thanked Bauchi state Ministry of Youths and Sports Development and Bauchi State Sports Council for organizing the refresher course, and promised to step the knowledge acquired to colleagues in their localities.
