By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos
Kebbi State Commissioner for Sports, Honourable Aliu Bello has said that
Kebbi State on Thursday lost
Having lost a semi final ticket to book a place in the last four of the most popular, oldest and most glamorous grassroots football tournament in the country which is in its 39th edition, Bello believes that Governor Baguda must be appreciated for giving sports priority in the state.
“ I’m particularly happy with what the team has done so far which shows an improvement on the part of the technical crew and players and I want to urge them to continue improving in subsequent outings until they bring glory to the state.
“ Its equally important to state that the result we’re getting today is because of the governor’s passion for sports. This is a governor whose love for sports made the state sign an MoU with coaches that will lead to the establishment of a football academy where talents would be harnessed for both league teams and the various national teams.
“ Right now, the state has attracted FIFA Goal Project and the ultra modern state-owned stadium will soon be commissioned”, he declared.
Speaking also, Senior Special Adviser on Sports to the Governor, Babangida Seriki was full of praises for the governor over his support to grassroots sports development in the state; saying that posterity will always remember him.
Seriki who also doubles as Kebbi State Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria ( YSFON) Secretary, expressed confidence that very soon, the state will take back its rightful position in sports in the country even as he charged the team to remain focused as that’s the only way to success.
Earlier in the day, hosts Kano beat the defending champions, Kwara State by 2-0 to book their semi final ticket.
Others are Ogun who ousted the el-Rufai boys by 13-11 penalty shoot out after a 3-3 regulation time..
Gombe outscored their Jigawa counterparts 3-1 to play in Friday’s semis.
The final is scheduled for the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano on Saturday.
