As we know that sports in itself is fundamentally a good thing to do, but there are additional benefits attached to playing sports. The obvious one we all know of is health-related, but actually the benefits of playing sport can be far wide-reaching.
For example, sports men/women can learn about teamwork, discipline and leadership. These can have impact on their skills and job prospects which will get them equipped for entry into their profession.
Sport also has a positive impact on integration, bringing together groups and individuals who on a normal day might not interact with each other. We used to see and hear of how sports is used to bring people of different religious and ethical backgrounds together in major sport tournaments like FIFA world cup, Olympic, National sport festival etc. not only in such events, even in a locally organized football matches, tennis games, local wrestling etc. you will see that people are always smiling at each other despite their different religious or ethical backgrounds. So it doesn’t have to be a major global or national event.
A local sports competition can play just as important a role played by the global or national sports events in ensuring unity and ensuring that everyone playing has a common goal and a shared interest, showing that sport can be an excellent way to bring together persons of different backgrounds together.
Basically, we can say, sport arguably more than any other form of social activity in the world facilitates unity, hugs, hand-shakes, flag waving and the playing of national anthems, both formally and informally, through the activities of fans who have different backgrounds. Sport, at the elite and community level, is increasingly being used in a wide variety of ways to promote social inclusion, prevent conflict, and to enhance peace within and between nations. Although sport alone cannot prevent conflict or build peace, it can contribute to broader, more comprehensive efforts in a number of important ways.
The importance of sport in uniting people of different backgrounds cannot be overemphasize as we all know that despite our diversity in culture, religion and ethnic groups, when sports events are organized, and Gombe sport team is involve, the people of Gombe are always behind their teams. Win or lose.
In the wake of the above, Gombe have continued to benefit from the bond of sports.
Our diversity in culture has been buried beneath the ground in our various sports centers. You hardly know of a player’s culture, religion or ethnic group when on the field of play. For that, fans don’t care to ask because it doesn’t matter.
The spirit of sport in Gombe has helped us to respect each other’s culture, religion and ethnic group. Nobody is left behind as everybody is contributing his quota to ensure that the peace we are enjoying through sport is not jeopardized.
Our desire to promote sports, win laurels and perform better in sporting activities has kept us going and held us together for long time.
We do not care about your religion, your culture and ethnic group, all we care about is your input in sporting Gombe to standard, your performance on the pitch while playing and your solidarity to support any team from Gombe and your commitment to sport development.
Some friends are made during sporting activities; some are made while watching sports while others are made out of love for sports.
Sport has become one of the lifeline and bloodstreams supplying blood to our hearts in Gombe. It keeps us as one entity and unites us in various ways.
We hardly talk about our difference while talking sport.
However, we can enjoy more benefits attached to sports in Gombe if we can give it more attention. This will mean giving everyone a chance to partake in it; the children, youths, men and women and physically challenged people.
Sports has kept us together, it will continue to keep us together.
Stronger are we through sport.
Permit me to conclude with the words of one of the Africa’s finest peace icon late Nelson Mandela during the Laureus Sport Awards Ceremony in 2000.
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else can. Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair”.
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