By; ABBAS SHEHU, Bauchi
Following the inability of Wikki Tourists Football of Bauchi to qualify in the just concluded NNL 24 Conference C final, to participate in the super eight despite beating the host EFCC Fc Abuja 4-2 yesterday, the Honourable Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development Bauchi State, Mohammed Salis Gamawa, while sympathizing with the team for not achieving their desired goal for promotion, urged all stakeholders in Wikki Tourists FC to be courageous and remain focus, describing the situation as a moment of trial.
The commissioner spoke while interacting with sports journalists shortly after the NNL24 Conference C final match against EFCC of Abuja, which fell short of giving Wikki Tourists the ticket for the super eight, where he commended the management of team, technical crew, players, other supporting officials and supporters club for their contributions and commitment towards ensuring that Wikki Tourists return to NPFL particularly Bauchi State Government under the good sports loving governor Bala Mohammed, who despite the harsh economic situation in country, financed the team to logical conclusion of the conference.
The commissioner was also at the players’ hotel to cheer the team up with some encouraging words and incentives, asking them to take what happened in good faith and focus on the Federation Cup.
He said, ‘We are not losers in this game, but only that the season did not favour us and because of that, I don’t want anybody to have any ill feelings or malice against each other, but rather be more united and strong so that we don’t lose focus of what we should do next. Thank God we were not disgraced as we finished third, this is our destiny”, the commissioner said.
The Technical Adviser of the Club, Azeez Audu Mohammed, while responding on behalf of his crew, expressed gratitude and appreciated Bauchi State Government and the commissioner for the support to the team, since the commencement of the league and tendered apology to the football loving people of Bauchi State for inability to get the super eight ticket and solicit for their understanding, praying that God in his wisdom will compensate the club with something equally good.
According to Coach Azeez, “I enjoyed every support, cooperation and understanding accorded to me by management, players, supporting staff and supporters club to achieve what we have achieved”.
