...As GDSS Doma, Shehu Abubakar Shine at Gombe Inter-secondary Schools Athletics, Principals Cup

The 2025 Gombe State Inter-secondary Schools Athletics and Principals Cup Football Competition came to a glittering end on Saturday with a colourful closing ceremony at the Pantami Stadium.

Medals were also given to deserving individual athletes and teams, who excelled at the one week sports extravaganza.

The closing ceremony, which was attended by Alhaji Mohammed Baba Magami, the representative of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, and the state Commissioner of Education, Dr. Aishatu Umar Maigari, also included the finals of the 400×100 relays for U-20 boys and girls, U-18 boys and girls and U-16 boys and girls.

Besides the competitive events, there was also the invitational relays for higher institutions, which Gombe Athletics Academy dusted North-East University and Gombe State Polytechnic to clinch gold.

Earlier on Friday evening, GDSS Shehu Abubakar defeated Savannah Group of Schools Gombe 4-3 on penalties after playing 0-0 in regulation time to win football gold, while Government Science Technical College (GSTC) Gombe defeated IDP Academy 1-0 to claim bronze medal.

In athletics, GGMC Doma garnered 9 gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze medals to top the medals table; GVTC Kamara came second with 8 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronzes, while GDSS Bolari East placed third on the standings with 6 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals.

The fourth position went to GDSS Ahmadu Gombe with 5 gold, zero silver and zero bronze medals; Diocesan High School was fifth with 4 gold, 7 silver and 1 bronze medal.

Out of the 73 secondary schools that featured in the athletics events, only 24 schools registered their names on the medals table, with Sechem Academy languishing at the basement with one (1) bronze medal.

There were also individual awards for Abdullahi Bello Aliyu, who won the Most Valuable Player award in football; the Best Goalkeeper award and the Highest Goals Scorer award in the football event.

Gombe State Athletics Association boycotts Event

 

All AthIetics stakeholders are hereby notified that on no account should any AthIete, NAATO officials participate in the proposed AthIetics competition planned to commence today, October 22, 2024 at the Pantami Stadium.

In a statement been E-signed by the Chairman Gombe State Athletics Association, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, said, it's cogent to note that AthIetics World-wide have rules of engagement which all stakeholders must obey, therefore, not meeting these rules by the organisers, the Gombe State Athletics Association has decided to exit from the competition in accordance to the rules of the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and by extension the World AthIetics.

Part of the reasons Gombe AthIetics Association is boycotting the competition are as follows:

1. The competition is below AthIetics standards both in procurement of running facilities and medical and insurance requirements.

2. Organisers of the competition are largely unknown to leaders of Gombe State Athletics Association as Facilities for the competition are either sub-standard or none existant.

3. All  NAATO officials were not Formally/Officially invited for the competition. 

Gombe AthIetics Association leadership cannot tolerate under its watch for Athletes and Athletics to be ridiculed or shamed by ignorant state machineries.

In the same breath, the GAA leadership has directed its officials not to participate in the event. 

Failure to heed to the instructions will attract severe sanctions  in accordance with the ethics of NAATO. 

Also, ,any athlete registered would risk sanctions and more penalties.

The Gombe State Athletics  Association hierachy therefore urge members to synegise with the State Athletics Association for growth and talent discovery.