BY FAROUK YARMA.
THE EVOLUTION OF GOMBE BULLS
Gombe Bulls Basketball team came into international reckoning after sweat and strategic planning. The people of Gombe quested for the resuscitation of the team which has gone into a long coma, the opportunity came after I was appointed as the inaugural Executive Chairman of Gombe State Sports Commission by His Excellency, Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, OON (Talban Gombe).
The first thing I set out to do after my appointment in 2012 was to empower other sports other than football in the state. Basketball was one of the prioritised sports. To set up the blueprint for the recreation of basketball in the state via Gombe Bulls, I summoned key stakeholders for a meeting. These involved include CoachIbraheem Gimba,Alhj Kawu Abdulkadir, Hon Ibrahim Sa'adu, Omo Basket, Auwal Sikama, Adamu Santana, Sale Baka,Sulaiman Saleh, Yakubu Kabiru,Mr Ade,among others, to chart a roadmap for Gombe Bulls and with it basketball in the state. We eventually came up with the following thematic points:
A-To expand the stakeholders meeting with a view to compiling more inputs
B-To come up with a blueprint
C-To ensure that basketball become second to football in the state
D-To source for funding
We developed the blueprint and a 3-year action plan with a target of getting Gombe Bulls into the Premier League. We started by lobbying the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) on how to get a slot to participate in the national league Division 2, we succeeded and participated using predominantly home-based players. The spirit and determination imputed qualified the team to Division 1. At that moment no funds was budgeted for the team, the team was yet to be absorbed by the government.
I had a dialogue with my members and the management of the Sport Commission, we discussed the way forward for Gombe Bulls, having understood that we can not afford to finance the activities of the team any longer. We agreed to manage and participate in the DIV 1 and subsequently write to the government for taking over and funding. We couldn't qualify to the Premier League in our first attempt in Division 1. We lobbied the NBBF to offer Gombe State the hosting rights for Division 1 playoffs. Fortunately, our request was granted and with the hosting right at hand, we seek the intervention of the state government. His Excellency magnanimously agreed to sponsor the playoffs. Gombe Bulls went on to defeat Kwara Falcons at home soil and earned a ticket to the DSTV Premier League.
Following the qualification to DSTV Premier League, we deliberated at the Management level on how to sponsor the team, with participation in the Premier League a daunting task. We resolved to seek for the state government's support, after the qualification we sat at the management level to discuss on how to sponsore the team, finally we resolved to seek for state government intervention. My first memo to His Excellency about Gombe Bulls' participation in the DSTV Premier League seemed to lack enough conviction. We were left in a fix, without competent technical crew, quality players and no source of funding, as the league was past approaching. I became worried, but refused to give off.
I re invited the stakeholders this time around to update them on what happened and also to discuss the way forward, but I refused to disclose the situation at hand. The meeting, alongside members and management staff of the Sports Commission, resulted into the following decisions:
A- To employ the service of sound Technical Adviser and give him the leeway of choosing his assistant.
B-To allow the Technical Adviser to bring in quality players that could compliment the home-based players.
C- To invite more stakeholders to support the project
D-To solicit the approval of the National Sports Commission for the use of the indoor hall in Gombe to serve as the ground for our home games.
I wrote to the National Sports Commission and closely followed up the request, finally approval was granted courtesy of the then Director-General, Dr Patrick Ikeji. After getting the approval and concluding our plans, we were ready, but no funds. I was able to convince members of the Sports Commission to agree on the premise that we would be using part of our monthly impress to finance activities of Gombe Bulls. Most of the members were initially not happy with my proposal, but that was the only option left if we were to sustain Gombe Bulls. The sum of N1.4million was set aside every month for 2 years to take care of players' salaries, match bonuses, traveling expenses and other logistics. I even came up with an advisory board and backroom staff to support the team and they go home with stipends each month.
For the team's travels, we began to use Gombe Line buses, I later realised that wasn't tenable, so I pushed for the purchase of a bus for the Comission by the state government and finally we got a coaster bus and I decided to release it for Gombe Bulls. We later realised that the deduction of N1.4million from our monthly impress put many activities in the Sports Commission on hold. To tackle that I was prompted to write another memo to His Excellency, with the support of the former Secretary to the State Government (Alhaji Sule Bage) and the then Permanent Secretary (General Duties), the present acting SSG Mr James Pisagih, the memo was approved in principle, pending when the Sports Commission came up with the financial implication.
My closeness to the former SSG (who has been a mentor) made me realize what the government expected from us, and so I came up with a modest budget of N3.5million month. After a series of meetings with the former SSG and the Mr James Pisagih, we settled at N2.876.842/month. This figure was recommended to His Excellency who graciously approved. That approval, and the agreement by the government to take over Gombe Bulls, got us back to business and gave us the assurance and agility we can take Gombe Bulls to the highest level.
After the government take-over I realised that the Technical Adviser, Coach Abdulrahman Mohammed and his assistants were staying in hotel rooms thereby accumulating huge bills to the Sports Commission. ,I rented two apartments for both the players and coaches and I also furnished them to considerable standard.
Every year we paid N1.25million for both players camp and coaches accommodation.
That was the genesis of the solid foundation that led to the evolution of Gombe Bulls basketball club. Aside from the players, technical and supporting staff, more than 25 others were earning for their livelihood from the club. Before I leave office no single player or official was owing-salaries, match bonuses, traveling expenses and other entitlements were all settled as at when due. I left behind Gombe Bulls with disciplines players, indefatigable technical crew and advisory board and a reputable supporters club. I was able to also spearhead the formation of JEWEL BULLS, a feeder team to GOMBE BULLS
On the final analysis, I was able to realise my dream of projecting basketball to be the second popular sport in the state after football. We were able resuscitate Gombe Bulls and ensured that Gombe State is back in the Nigerian basketball map with Gombe Bulls one of the best three basketball clubs in the country. I can be bold to blow my trumpet and say, without mincing words that "Gombe Bulls have come to stay in Gombe State courtesy of young Malam Farouk Yarma with the unflinching support received from His Excellency, Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, OON (Talban Gombe)
Special mention goes to the Iron Lady Zainab Jibo, the first secretary of the team. Without her industry, resilience,dedication and insight, we won't have recorded the monumental achievement. Appreciation also goes to Coach Ibraheem Gimba, the head of technical, his passion for basketball is exemplary, the initial plan for the resuscitation of Gombe Bulls emanated from him. Mr Ezra Bilayoubu, my Director of Sports, and all the members and management staff of the Sports Commission, deserved to be praised. Tijjani Umar, President of NBBF, gave us all the support and guidance we needed. Finally, I would like to thank the present leadership of Gombe State Sports Commission for keeping the flame burning.
THE EVOLUTION OF GOMBE BULLS
Gombe Bulls Basketball team came into international reckoning after sweat and strategic planning. The people of Gombe quested for the resuscitation of the team which has gone into a long coma, the opportunity came after I was appointed as the inaugural Executive Chairman of Gombe State Sports Commission by His Excellency, Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, OON (Talban Gombe).
The first thing I set out to do after my appointment in 2012 was to empower other sports other than football in the state. Basketball was one of the prioritised sports. To set up the blueprint for the recreation of basketball in the state via Gombe Bulls, I summoned key stakeholders for a meeting. These involved include CoachIbraheem Gimba,Alhj Kawu Abdulkadir, Hon Ibrahim Sa'adu, Omo Basket, Auwal Sikama, Adamu Santana, Sale Baka,Sulaiman Saleh, Yakubu Kabiru,Mr Ade,among others, to chart a roadmap for Gombe Bulls and with it basketball in the state. We eventually came up with the following thematic points:
A-To expand the stakeholders meeting with a view to compiling more inputs
B-To come up with a blueprint
C-To ensure that basketball become second to football in the state
D-To source for funding
We developed the blueprint and a 3-year action plan with a target of getting Gombe Bulls into the Premier League. We started by lobbying the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) on how to get a slot to participate in the national league Division 2, we succeeded and participated using predominantly home-based players. The spirit and determination imputed qualified the team to Division 1. At that moment no funds was budgeted for the team, the team was yet to be absorbed by the government.
I had a dialogue with my members and the management of the Sport Commission, we discussed the way forward for Gombe Bulls, having understood that we can not afford to finance the activities of the team any longer. We agreed to manage and participate in the DIV 1 and subsequently write to the government for taking over and funding. We couldn't qualify to the Premier League in our first attempt in Division 1. We lobbied the NBBF to offer Gombe State the hosting rights for Division 1 playoffs. Fortunately, our request was granted and with the hosting right at hand, we seek the intervention of the state government. His Excellency magnanimously agreed to sponsor the playoffs. Gombe Bulls went on to defeat Kwara Falcons at home soil and earned a ticket to the DSTV Premier League.
Following the qualification to DSTV Premier League, we deliberated at the Management level on how to sponsor the team, with participation in the Premier League a daunting task. We resolved to seek for the state government's support, after the qualification we sat at the management level to discuss on how to sponsore the team, finally we resolved to seek for state government intervention. My first memo to His Excellency about Gombe Bulls' participation in the DSTV Premier League seemed to lack enough conviction. We were left in a fix, without competent technical crew, quality players and no source of funding, as the league was past approaching. I became worried, but refused to give off.
I re invited the stakeholders this time around to update them on what happened and also to discuss the way forward, but I refused to disclose the situation at hand. The meeting, alongside members and management staff of the Sports Commission, resulted into the following decisions:
A- To employ the service of sound Technical Adviser and give him the leeway of choosing his assistant.
B-To allow the Technical Adviser to bring in quality players that could compliment the home-based players.
C- To invite more stakeholders to support the project
D-To solicit the approval of the National Sports Commission for the use of the indoor hall in Gombe to serve as the ground for our home games.
I wrote to the National Sports Commission and closely followed up the request, finally approval was granted courtesy of the then Director-General, Dr Patrick Ikeji. After getting the approval and concluding our plans, we were ready, but no funds. I was able to convince members of the Sports Commission to agree on the premise that we would be using part of our monthly impress to finance activities of Gombe Bulls. Most of the members were initially not happy with my proposal, but that was the only option left if we were to sustain Gombe Bulls. The sum of N1.4million was set aside every month for 2 years to take care of players' salaries, match bonuses, traveling expenses and other logistics. I even came up with an advisory board and backroom staff to support the team and they go home with stipends each month.
For the team's travels, we began to use Gombe Line buses, I later realised that wasn't tenable, so I pushed for the purchase of a bus for the Comission by the state government and finally we got a coaster bus and I decided to release it for Gombe Bulls. We later realised that the deduction of N1.4million from our monthly impress put many activities in the Sports Commission on hold. To tackle that I was prompted to write another memo to His Excellency, with the support of the former Secretary to the State Government (Alhaji Sule Bage) and the then Permanent Secretary (General Duties), the present acting SSG Mr James Pisagih, the memo was approved in principle, pending when the Sports Commission came up with the financial implication.
My closeness to the former SSG (who has been a mentor) made me realize what the government expected from us, and so I came up with a modest budget of N3.5million month. After a series of meetings with the former SSG and the Mr James Pisagih, we settled at N2.876.842/month. This figure was recommended to His Excellency who graciously approved. That approval, and the agreement by the government to take over Gombe Bulls, got us back to business and gave us the assurance and agility we can take Gombe Bulls to the highest level.
After the government take-over I realised that the Technical Adviser, Coach Abdulrahman Mohammed and his assistants were staying in hotel rooms thereby accumulating huge bills to the Sports Commission. ,I rented two apartments for both the players and coaches and I also furnished them to considerable standard.
Every year we paid N1.25million for both players camp and coaches accommodation.
That was the genesis of the solid foundation that led to the evolution of Gombe Bulls basketball club. Aside from the players, technical and supporting staff, more than 25 others were earning for their livelihood from the club. Before I leave office no single player or official was owing-salaries, match bonuses, traveling expenses and other entitlements were all settled as at when due. I left behind Gombe Bulls with disciplines players, indefatigable technical crew and advisory board and a reputable supporters club. I was able to also spearhead the formation of JEWEL BULLS, a feeder team to GOMBE BULLS
On the final analysis, I was able to realise my dream of projecting basketball to be the second popular sport in the state after football. We were able resuscitate Gombe Bulls and ensured that Gombe State is back in the Nigerian basketball map with Gombe Bulls one of the best three basketball clubs in the country. I can be bold to blow my trumpet and say, without mincing words that "Gombe Bulls have come to stay in Gombe State courtesy of young Malam Farouk Yarma with the unflinching support received from His Excellency, Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, OON (Talban Gombe)
Special mention goes to the Iron Lady Zainab Jibo, the first secretary of the team. Without her industry, resilience,dedication and insight, we won't have recorded the monumental achievement. Appreciation also goes to Coach Ibraheem Gimba, the head of technical, his passion for basketball is exemplary, the initial plan for the resuscitation of Gombe Bulls emanated from him. Mr Ezra Bilayoubu, my Director of Sports, and all the members and management staff of the Sports Commission, deserved to be praised. Tijjani Umar, President of NBBF, gave us all the support and guidance we needed. Finally, I would like to thank the present leadership of Gombe State Sports Commission for keeping the flame burning.
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