The first vice president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN),Tafida Gadzama and Marathon legend, Abbas Muhammed applauded Gombe State Athletics Association for packaging a thrilling Inter Primary Schools AthIetics Championship.
Gadzama hailed the positive impact the competition will create among participating pupils and spectators who throned Pantami Stadium Gombe in their thousands to watch the championship, saying it was revolution for athletics in Nigeria.
“I saw the revolution in athletics you have done, even better than AFN itself and greater than any athletics competition in the country. I said it on our platform and later deleted it because they will accuse me of talking down on the federation but that is the fact. You are indeed a blessing to the sport we love. Please keep it up, “ Gadzama said.
The former 400m Olympic Gold medallist further reiterated the need to build athIetics and athletes from the grassroots which he said is the future of the sport.
On his part, Marathon Legend, Col. Abbas Muhammed (rtd), said Gombe State will soon reap the harvest of grassroots sports from early seed being planted at the moment by Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-led Gombe State Athletics Association.
“I’m not joking, this grassroots competition will throw up talents that would sustain the glory and positive image of Gombe State through Sports.
Most States, like Delta, Lagos, Edo, Bayelsa etc that started like this year’s back are reaping the fruit today to the envy of other sleeping states.
“I said this not to hurt any one, unless we hunt from the grassroots, nothing would be achieved with poaching already made talents which often come with negative baggages.” Abbas warned.
He urges governments and sports loving firms and individuals to assist by sponsoring athIetics in the states.
Over 1,017 pupils from 37 primary schools are currently participating in the 4-day Competition with mouth watering prices attached.
Gladly, the competition would the first of it’s kind in Gombe State in recent times as it was tagged Primary Schools AthIetics Olympics
