Gombe Athletics Academy (GAA) proprietor and Gombe State Athletics Association chairman, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, warned his athletes in an aggressive notice not to participate in the forthcoming 9th National Youth Games in Asaba.
In the notice made on Friday, Gara-Gombe made it clear that the athlete will be disciplinary-mandated if he/she acts contrary to the directive since the Academy has pledged to uphold its training and development obligations.
He said that the boycott was prompted by the failure of the Sports Ministry to give an account of the £39 million spent by the Gombe State Government on the just-ended National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He also attributed the interference by government officials with the work of the Academy to include paying to utilize stadia, sabotage of preparations for earlier competitions, and the Ministry sending an impersonator to vote for him in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) elections.
Highlighting the work of the Academy, Gara-Gombe came out to say that the GAA covers school fees, uniform, books, shoes, medical covers, and training aid of the athletes all contracted with their parents. He warned that none of its athletes should represent it in the state team to Asaba.
He also lamented that despite sponsoring athletes to previous Youth Games where they returned with medals bearing Gombe State’s name without any government funds being expended, no aid or recognition has been shown by the state.
Pledging to escalate the matter further, Gara-Gombe blamed the State Secretary for consistently declining official invitations and requests for assistance to feature in less efficient events hosted by other individuals.
The Academy trained over 100 Masters of School Games, renovated facilities, and helped during times of crisis for the state, but we are yet to suffer neglect and betrayal,” Gara-Gombe stated.
