The founder and initiator of the Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf 3rd Year Anniversary Football Competition, Alhaji Ali Muhammad Nayara Mai Samba, has expressed delight over the success of the tournament, which was organised to commemorate the third anniversary of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration.
Mai Samba, the immediate past chairman of Kano Pillars Football Club said he was particularly pleased with the level of participation, enthusiasm and public interest generated by the competition, describing it as an important platform for promoting grassroots football, discovering young talents and using sports to celebrate the administration’s third year in office.
He told this platform that he conceived and organised the competition as part of activities to mark the governor’s third anniversary, explaining that the initiative was designed not only to celebrate the milestone but also to provide young footballers with an opportunity to showcase their talents while promoting unity, sportsmanship and healthy competition.
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According to him, his motivation was to use football as a vehicle for celebrating the administration while contributing to grassroots sports development and encouraging promising young players to pursue their football ambitions.
Mai Samba noted that although the much-anticipated final was abruptly halted just a few minutes before its scheduled kick-off because of overcrowding at the designated venue, the organisers remained committed to ensuring that the match was eventually played.
He explained that the decision to call off the final was taken in the interest of public safety, as the unprecedented crowd made it difficult to guarantee adequate security for the players, officials, supporters and other spectators.
According to him, the final attracted a massive turnout far beyond the organisers’ expectations, with football enthusiasts and supporters converging on the venue in large numbers to witness the decisive encounter.
However, what initially appeared to be a positive demonstration of the competition’s popularity eventually created a serious security challenge, as the venue became overcrowded and unsuitable for the match to proceed safely.
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Consequently, the organisers had no option but to stop the fixture in the interest of public safety and the security of everyone at the venue.
Following the development, the organisers decided to reschedule the final for a date after the ongoing pre-season tournament in Katsina.
According to our findings, the postponement was also influenced by the fact that some players from both finalists, Fagge and Brigade, are members of teams participating in the ongoing pre-season tournament in Katsina.
The organisers therefore opted to defer the replay until after the Katsina tournament, when the affected players are expected to be available to represent their respective teams.
The postponement, it was further gathered, would also provide the organisers with sufficient time to put better arrangements in place, particularly in the areas of security, crowd management, logistics and general match-day organisation.
The organisers hope that the additional preparations will ensure that the rescheduled final is conducted in a safe, orderly and successful manner.
Despite the setback, Mai Samba said he remained satisfied with the overall success of the competition, particularly the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the participating teams, players and football supporters throughout the tournament.
The competition brought together 32 teams, providing an important platform for footballers to showcase their abilities while promoting sportsmanship, unity, friendship and healthy competition.
For Mai Samba, the tournament was not solely about football but also represented an opportunity to celebrate the third anniversary of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
He therefore expressed the hope that the governor would personally attend the rescheduled final or delegate a high-ranking representative to witness the occasion.
According to him, the governor’s presence would provide an opportunity for His Excellency to see firsthand the enormous goodwill, enthusiasm and support demonstrated by the people throughout the competition.
He added that the massive turnout and overwhelming support recorded during the tournament were indications of the people’s interest in the administration and their willingness to celebrate the governor’s third year in office.
Mai Samba also expressed appreciation to individuals, organisations and stakeholders who contributed to the success of the competition, particularly the Commissioner, Hon. (Dr.) Dahiru Hashim, whom he commended for his generous support and commitment to the tournament.
He specifically thanked the Commissioner for funding and providing sports kits for all 32 participating teams, describing the gesture as a significant contribution that enhanced the organisation, appearance and overall presentation of the competition.
He also appreciated the Commissioner for providing trophies and cash prizes, noting that the incentives added value to the tournament while motivating the participating teams and players to give their best.
According to Mai Samba, the contributions of the Commissioner and other stakeholders demonstrated their commitment to grassroots football, youth development and the broader sports-development agenda of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration.
He stressed that competitions of this nature could play a significant role in identifying and nurturing promising young talents who could eventually progress to professional football and represent Kano State at higher levels.
Mai Samba, however, used the occasion to appeal to the state government to make its administration more inclusive by creating greater opportunities for a wider range of stakeholders, particularly individuals and organisations that have consistently demonstrated commitment to sports development, grassroots football and youth empowerment.
He said greater inclusion and recognition of such stakeholders would not only encourage them to do more but would also enable the government to harness their experience, expertise and resources in advancing its sports and youth-development agenda.
He therefore called for wider consultation and greater involvement of stakeholders in government programmes, arguing that an inclusive approach would create more opportunities for individuals and organisations to contribute their ideas, experience and resources towards the overall development of Kano State.
Mai Samba maintained that the success of the anniversary competition had demonstrated what could be achieved when government, private individuals, sports stakeholders and the wider community work together towards a common objective.
He expressed appreciation to the participating teams, players, supporters, match officials, security personnel, sponsors and members of the organising committee for their various contributions to the success of the tournament.
He also appealed to football fans, supporters and other stakeholders to remain patient and continue to support the organisers ahead of the rescheduled final.
Mai Samba expressed optimism that the replay would be held under improved security, crowd-control and logistical arrangements, providing the finalists with a fair opportunity to compete and giving football fans the exciting and memorable finale they have been eagerly anticipating.
He also commended the security personnel for their professionalism and efforts in managing the situation, noting that they did their best to control the large crowd and maintain order despite the challenges that ultimately made it impossible for the match to continue safely
