Borno Plans Grassroots Sports Revival

The Borno State Government has said that it planned to unfold a blueprint for the development of sports at the grassroots.

Isa Buratai, Commissioner for Sports Development, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the plan was aimed at addressing the dwindling fortunes of sports in the state.

“We have faced a decline in sports in recent times but we are now taking bold steps to address the situation.

“We are going back to the drawing board in order to revive sports, in essence, we are going to produce a sports development blueprint,” he said.

Buratai added that the blueprint would ensure that structures were put in place to identify young talents and train them.

He said that the programme would emphasise sports where the state had comparative advantages.

“Borno teams used to be the best in cycling, handball, basketball and the likes.This is exactly what we are trying to revive.

“We will also lay the foundation for the development of other sports to take care of our youths,” Buratai said.

He said that the blueprint would also help the resuscitation of school sports, adding that committees would be set up at the local government level to ensure the success of the talent hunt programme.

“The idea of setting up the committees is sequel to the recent visit of the Segun Odegbami-led Nigeria Academical Sports Committee to the state.

“We actually agreed to set up the Academical Committee at the state level after meeting with the national body in Maiduguri,” Buratai said.

He said that the aim was also to harness budding football talents at the grassroots, for training as future champions.

“We bought the idea in full because we believe that the state has so many hidden football talents waiting to be tapped.

“In essence, the idea is to uncover numerous talents at the local level so that we can have youths who can represent us well at national competitions,” Buratai added.

He said that the state recorded some successes in sports last year in spite of many challenges.

“The state contingent at the 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt in September did well by winning one gold, three silver and eight bronze medals.

“The state female handball team won the trophy at the national championship in Kano, while the male team also went far in the competition,” Buratai said.

He said that the state U-17 footballl team, Alooma Babes, secured the ticket to represent Nigeria at an international championship in Brazil this month.

“The team won the ticket after emerging champions at the Ibrahim Shema U-17 Championship in Katsina last year. “The state government is preparing the team to ensure that it performed very well at the championship,” Buratai said.

He said that the state government had also initiated measures to ensure the completion of the abandoned multi-purpose Maiduguri Stadium.

“You will recall that a task force was set up by the state government toward completing the stadium. The aim was to clear all legal impediments that could hamper its completion.

“I am happy to say that the task force had completed its assignment and the report presented to the State Executive Council which mandated the government to do the project,” Buratai said.