Sports

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jubrin, Nigeria’s new Pillar Of Sports

Published

5 months ago

November 23, 2024

By Abdulgafar Oladimeji in Doha,Qatar

Nigeria’s deputy senate president, senator Barau Jubrin has stepped into the sports sector unannounced with enviable silent achievements that could best create an anticipation of his soonest possible initiation into the hall of fame, which houses those who are meritiously brandishing the prestigious rank of Nigeria’s Pillars of sports.

Barau’s initiation and support to projects in the sports sector in his private and public capacity as senator representing Kano north in the hallowed chambers has continued to attract enviable reactions from millions of sports adherents .

The northern Nigeria sports circle is currently drenched in debates around those dreams that invoke the wonderlands ,that where, if every senator and their political peers holding forth at various levels in public offices would resort to constructing one new sports facility or renovate dilapidated ones or upgrade excising ones , today the myriads of challenges associated with the unavailability of sports facilities in northern Nigeria would have been submerged, many averred .

Likewise the mass conviction that with the Barau sports facility development pattern , sports development and promotion in Nigeria could become a corner stone for economic pursuits and possibly make real the agreements reached by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his last visit to Qatar , earlier in the year 2024 .

One decade ago, Barau Jubrin, former chairman house of representatives Committee on Appropriation was no where a name that had featured on the lips of critical sports stakeholders and fanatical sports followers or was it known to those following happenings in the sports sector from afar.

Today his door steps play host to regional and national sports administrators in search of guidance nor one form of intervention or the other, that would help move the Nigeria sports sector forward in the axis of promotion or development , checks reveal that sometimes these sports visitors are there to solicit for DSP Barau to become their sports god father.

His name began to shone in the sports horizon, after the establishment of the popular grass root football club known as Barau Jubrin football academy, which was established with the motive to recruit and groom talented children from the streets and renowned football neighborhoods in Kano into an elite football development environment .

Barau proceeded to become a sports development giant with what is now described as the wonders of Kano sports, when he kick started the construction of 13 stadiums in all the 13 local governments that constituted his Kano north senatorial jurisdiction .

Our correspondent who toured the stadiums , reports that works in some of the facilities have reached an advanced stage.

A close ally to the senator, involved in the execution of the stadium projects , Ado Rabiu Dan Bayero, who took this reporter round Maliya stadium in Dambatta , said the investments into the construction of the stadium runs into mouth watering millions of naira.

Dan Bayero as he is preferably called , said that Barau has never hidden his love for sports and youths developments, adding that, they were under strict instructions from DSP not to default in working day and night to see that the projects come to see the light of the day, hence meeting Barau’s mission of reaffirming the status of Kano, as the hub of sports development and promotion in northern Nigeria.

He revealed that the football playing ground axis of the facility is comfortably seated on silka sand and granular on 6, 800 metres land space .

The representative of Kano north in the state football association, KSFA, Hassan Garo, who is overseeing ongoing works in the stadiums, responding to questions from this reporter, simply said, so far so good “ Allahamdullilahi”

He said works in some of the stadium facilities are at completion stages, saying , stadiums like Dambatta , Bichi and others could now be designated to play host to major football and other sporting events.

Garo said “firstly let me thank most distinguish senator Barau Jubrin, for , what he has achieved for sports in Kano and Nigeria in general, with these new stadiums, now located in 13 local governments in Kano, I think, if you know the importance of stadiums in sports , then you will see reasons, why we have will applaud and commend DSP Barau.

“it is right to at this point to say that any region with the number of our youths and sports lovers in Kano , without a stadium is like a city without an hospital or police station , that city for sure you know is doomed.”

“these stadiums in their locations will boost economic activities, create jobs for our communities , help to fight anti social vices and will help social integration, tourism and hospitality, businesses in the areas will benefit immensely, likewise many more other benefits that will trail these new developments to the stadium beneficiary communities .

“these stadiums , as you can see all have a unique design , they have football playgrounds with standard turf of the best quality, that you can find in the market, the football ground has all the required features and markings.

“the stadium has a fans stand, VIP seating pavilion, media gallery, media cubicle, technical area, public addressing system and the required fencing, aside that the complex as a whole has a multi purpose sports hall, an administrative block for members of staff of the stadium management team , security post for the police and NSCDC personnel and a large parking lot.”

“it has a match commissioners room, referees room, rooms for the home and away teams, media offices, medical facilities in line with the set out standards, also we have adequate number of rest rooms, in all the areas as required by standards.”

Garo further said “lest I forget, we have restaurants , likewise outdoor basketball , volleyball and handball courts all within these new facilities .

“the stadiums are powers by solar system, standby generators, provisions of bore holes, giant overhead water tanks and drainage systems.”

“ it will amaze you, on the number of visitors or do I call them tourist, who visit these stadiums to see things for themselves and also to take pictures and have social fun around the facilities, it is really getting interesting.”

Our correspondents who visited Dambatta and Bichi reported that each of the new stadium facilities are sited on the sparse covering approximately about 42, 500 square meters of land .

A source , who confided in this reporter disclosed that former Kano state commissioner of youths and sports, now legislative aide on sports to the deputy senate president, comrade Kabiru Ado Lakwaya , is on the fore of pursuing the task to ensuring that the project sees the light of the day .

The Barau Jubrin sports recipe are evident in the recent qualification of an NLO side, Barau fc to the second most prestigious league in Nigeria, NNL.

Spear heading the campaign that resulted to the promotion of our NLO club to NNL came with huge financial and human resource, spendings and management skills, thanks to our financier DSP Barau and the club chairman, Ibrahim Chanji the club spokesman, Hamisu Gwale said.

He added that the NNL debutants will carryout their campaign at one of the newly built stadium named Maliya stadium in Dambatta.

Hamisu seized the platform to applaud DSP for the recently held ceremony , where brand new motorcycles were gifted to the club players and officials by DSP Barau in fulfillment of his promises, if they promote the club to NNL.

A freelance sports journalists attached to Kano based public owned media outfit has revealed that DSP has been and remained a strong supporter in the affairs of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria.

The source said “ the last SWAN Full council meeting in Kano Barau through comrade Kabiru Ado Lakwaya played a very vital role in making sure Kano state hosted the national SWAN event in May 2024.

“as I speak to you, SWAN Kano are on the list of those groups that will benefit from the next distribution of operational vehicles that will be donated by DSP to public interest groups .”

“I think, SWAN Kano is enjoying massive support from DSP.”

Many opine that Barau’s attitude and commitment to sports project is changing the narratives of sports development in Kano, which was and still remains the undisputed hub of sports in northern Nigeria ,regardless of its long suffering from abysmal state of sports infrastructure in the state.

Barau’s intervention could be a wake up call, a toast, a challenge , one fact remain judicious, Barau Jubrin’s stadium projects is a clear pointer to the rising of Barau as a sports development star, now in the block , who has risen from the east, whom sooner or later maybe be dressed by constituted sports authorities in the highly revered robe of the pillar of sports in Nigeria. If he sustains the momentum.

Sports

Global Trade War: US tariff announced by President Trump and the consequences on sports

Published

2 weeks ago

April 14, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

The past weeks have been the most volatile for the global economy with sports economy not been an exception, since the industry is not incubated from the global economic value chain .

On April 2nd , 20025 US president Donald Trump , at the White House in an well televised event had announced a new tariff regime in what the US president described as Economic Independence on a day, he also tagged as the “Liberation Day.”

After the declaration, the situation within the anal of the global economic system in the layman comprehension has been epileptically in an galloping state.

The global sports market worth is presently at an estimate value of over 2 trillion US dollars across public, private and consumer investments .

The sports sector jealously parades the potentialities for further growth making it one of the largest and fasted growing economic sector in the world.

It is therefore imperative to take a critical look as the world sneezes over the new US tariff , sure the sports industry is also catching cold.

It is pertinent to note that, the writer is aware that President Donald Trump has announced a 90 days freeze on the new tariff policy, on some countries , it is still imperative to proceed with a critical analysis of the expected outcome of the new Trump led US policies on the global sports economy.

President Donald Trump would still be in office, when the United States would as a joint host nation play host to one of the largest sports fiesta and the most prestigious sports business event, which is the , FIFA world cup 2026.

The new US tariff no doubt would affect sports directly or indirectly courtesy of sports investments and sponsorship deals.

US investors have in the past two decades invaded the football business industry in various parts of the world with investments valued in billions of dollars, if the new tariff is implemented those investment that were secured through loans would put those investments at risk.

I mean here , that since the new US policy will strengthen the dollar, the worth of the loans in foreign countries would double in debt to become a huge fiscal burden on those sports investments .

These sports business with huge US investments will suffer severe implications and would not be able to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules. PSR.

Major sponsors of the next edition of the FIFA world cup have invested heavily with the motive to sell their products in the US markets, take for example Hyundai, which is one of the major FIFA World cup partners , the new US tariff seek to impose 25 percent tariff on car produced in South Korea, Hyundai FIFA world cup sponsorship deal is on a cliff .

Major brand wear owners like, Adidas, Nike and Puma, are known to have their production bases in Asia ,where the tariff is predicted to result in skyrocket effects on prices and market prices that may cause diminished purchasing powers amongst sports consumers.

if the US should proceed with the new tariff a large chunk of the traditional customers, who patronize these sports wear makers will be subjected to heavy prices in turn may affect sales, since they may have to resort abstinence of adopt austerity measures. .

It is expected that the Liberation Day announcement by the US government would have its impact on the prices of building materials , thus leading to jerk up in prices in the cost of the construction of sports facilities not just in the US ,but across major global cities that have been given the rights to host major global sports events, not exempting the construction of sports faculties for use at the grass root levels, the heightened cost would then be transferred to sports clubs, associations , investors, sponsors and sports consumers.

The 2026 FIFA world cup would be jointly hosted by US, Canada and Mexico, the bad blood recently created by the new US tariff policy may affect the smooth hosting of the fiesta.

No doubt there is an ongoing global trade war between US and Canada and Mexico, this may invoke an hitch that may cripple the working relationship between these host nations, likely disarray looms and may constitute a glitch in the workings towards the successful staging of the most cherished sports economic event, the FIFA World Cup

The trade war may possibly ignite anti fans sentiments, recently during an NHL and NBA fixture, Canadian fans were alleged to have booed, during the US anthem, these may become a new worrisome trend in the sports world and it spells doom , if the world of sports begin to witness this snail speed emerging trends t, it would trigger hate and destroy the true spirit of sportsmanship.

Major world sports platform are the dominant sales anchor of household products, consumer goods, whose labor force are domicile in the eastern block countries, where the tariff is expected to bite massively.

Thanks the media is exempted from the tariff, if the opposite where to be the case, that would have been a death sentence on the sports market, knowing fully well that the media is the soul of the global sports economy.

Abdulgafar Oladimeji

A Kano based sports journalist , is the news editor, Sahelsportsnews.com.

Sports

NFF Express Sadness Over The Demise of 1980 AFCON winner, Charles Bassey

Published

2 weeks ago

April 13, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

The Nigeria Football Federation says it is ‘deeply saddened’ by the death on Saturday of another member of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning Green Eagles squad, Charles Bassey. He was 71.

Bassey died after protracted illness in his native town of Eket, Akwa Ibom State, hours after it was confirmed that the captain of that team, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu, had passed on in Enugu.

This has been a day of double tragedy, and the NFF and the entire Nigeria football fraternity are deeply saddened by the turn of events. We lost ‘Chairman’ Chukwu earlier in the day; now, we have to mourn Charles Bassey. May God Almighty grant their souls eternal rest,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said.

Forward Charles Bassey was in the 22-man squad that became Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations champions, after a 3-0 defeat of Algeria’s Fennecs at the National Stadium, Surulere on Saturday, 22nd March 1980.

Afterwards, he coached various clubs within the country, including Calabar Rovers, home-town club Mobil Pegasus, BCC Lions of Gboko, Flash Flamingoes of Benin, Akwa United and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

His death brings to nine the number of persons in that squad that have departed, following the passing on of goalkeepers Best Ogedegbe and Moses Effiong, defenders Christian Chukwu, Okechukwu Isima and Tunde Bamidele, midfielders Aloysius Atugbu and Mudashiru Lawal and forward Martins Eyo.

Sahel Sports

Sports

Nexus Soccer Academy Kano Partners with SK Bischofshofen (BSK 1933) to Elevate Football Development in Nigeria

Published

4 weeks ago

April 2, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

Kano, Nigeria / Salzburg, Austria – A groundbreaking partnership agreement has been signed between Nexus Soccer Academy, a premier football development institution in Kano State, Nigeria, and SK Bischofshofen, one of Austria’s most respected football clubs. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the advancement of grassroots and professional football development in Nigeria.

The strategic alliance was brokered by Oluwabunmi Moses Egbebi, CEO of OE Sports Management Limited, as part of the company’s Sustainable Legacy Program, which is dedicated to fostering long-term football growth in Nigeria. In recognition of his pivotal role, Mr. Egbebi has been appointed as the Project Director to oversee the successful implementation of this partnership.

The official signing was conducted by the Presidents of both clubs—Mr. Jamil Abdussalam for Nexus Soccer Academy and Mr. Patrick Reiter for SK Bischofshofen. Mr. Reiter, a renowned Olympic judo champion for Austria, has successfully transitioned into sports leadership, bringing his expertise to SK Bischofshofen, a club that has built a strong reputation in Austrian football.

A Vision for Football Excellence

This partnership is designed to:
• Develop young football talents in Nigeria through structured training programs, international exposure, and mentorship.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange between Nigerian and Austrian coaches, enhancing technical expertise and tactical development.
• Create pathways for Nigerian players to showcase their talent on European platforms, bridging the gap between African and European football markets.
• Promote grassroots football development in line with international best practices, ensuring that young players receive professional-level training from an early stage.

A New Era for Nigerian Football

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Jamil Abdussalam expressed his excitement:
“This is a historic moment for Nexus Soccer Academy and Nigerian football. Partnering with a prestigious European club like SK Bischofshofen provides a new dimension to our development programs. We are committed to producing world-class players, and this collaboration will play a key role in achieving that vision.”

Patrick Reiter, President of SK Bischofshofen, also emphasized the significance of this alliance:
“Football is a global language, and through this partnership, we aim to contribute to the growth of young African talents. Nigeria has always been a powerhouse in football, and we believe this project will strengthen the connection between our two footballing cultures.”

A Commitment to Long-Term Growth

Under the leadership of Oluwabunmi Moses Egbebi, the Sustainable Legacy Program will ensure that this partnership delivers lasting impact, not just in player development but also in the overall football ecosystem in Nigeria. This initiative aligns with global best practices in sports development and further cements Nigeria’s position as a key player in the international football community.

This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, and both clubs are committed to making this collaboration a resounding success. Stay tuned as we embark on this transformative adventure in Nigerian and Austrian football!

#NexusAcademy #SKBischofshofen #FootballDevelopment #SustainableLegacy #OESports #NigeriaMeetsAustria #NextGenFootball