THE ALI GWABJE I KNEW - U. Tanimu Umar Writes, in memory of late Ali Garba; Former Gombe United's winger & coach.

I first came across Ali Garba (popularly known as Ali Gwabje) more than 30 years ago. I knew him through football and he passed on today serving football. His popularity became prevalent when he joined Gombe United in the 1990s, he was a torn in the fresh of defenders as a speedy right winger. He was converted to play in the wings because of his jet-speed, he was originally an out-and-out striker and, in my opinion, he played better as a young striker even before he became a professional with Gombe United.

Ali Gwabje, over 30 years ago, was a nightmare to any opposing club. I first knew him as a shy gangling striker playing for United City, a local club in Jekadafari area of Gombe. He was quickly snatched away by another local club in Gombe, Liverpool (which now goes by the more decent name Gombe Warriors), his presence made them among the most fearsome in town, when you play them, there was always high probability of Gwabje nicking in goals against you. He joined forces with the likes of Habu Wazari (Habu Pele), Manjo Dogonyaro, Fidelis Peter, Danlami Abdulkadir (Gary Lineker-now late), Hamisu Basalihi and Gambo Danny (also late), to make Gombe Warriors robust under the tutelage of late Malam Adamu Abubakar (Dangerous Coach).

I happened to be among the technical officials of Gombe Warriors’ fiercest opponents, Flash Flamingoes-I have been a club official from the age of 17! Our rivalry emanates from the fact that most players and officials of the two clubs resided in the same localities of Bolari and Kumbia-Kumbia. Whenever these clubs played, the rivalry was prominent, incidentally Flash were always beaten, and Ali Gwambje always grabbed the goals against us, I can remember that he scored a hat trick against us twice. The trend continued, until we exploited a strategy to stop Ali Gwabje. The strategy was simple: Cut the supply of the ball to him. Habu Pele (a very skilful midfielder, very adept with dribbling) was the supplier and when the killer pass came, nobody can catch Gwabje because of his speed, and you can bet that whenever he came one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he could finish easily.

After his playing days, which took him to the national team, he became a coach. On a number of occasions, he was the Chief Coach of Gombe United, I was one of those that recommended him when I was in the Management Board of Gombe United. Ali Garba will surely be missed, he was a gentleman that always run away from confrontations, he was a friend to all. May Allah comfort his family and give us all guts to bear this huge loss, may Allah choose for him an eternal resting place.