‘Yobe Stars are helping to heal wounds of insurgency’
Yobe State Director of Sports and General Manager of Yobe Desert Stars, Habu Abdulrahman Ago has said the state owned football club is seriously healing wounds inflicted on residents of the state as a result of insurgency in the state. The retired FIFA referee also told SHOT! that the sports sector is thriving in Yobe State because of the unflinching support of Governor Ibrahim Geidam.
How satisfied are with the performance of Yobe Desert Stars in the ongoing NPFL season?
Personally, I am satisfied with the performance of the team. We are a newly promoted team. We were promoted last year. However, if you look at our position on the table, we are in 12th position which to us is not bad. The target given to the coach and the players is to remain in the NPFL. So we want them to put in more effort especially in away matches to meet up with this target. I know it is not easy but they have to justify government support.
How much support are Yobe Stars enjoying from the government of Yobe State?
Government is supporting this club hundred per cent. I think we are just few, maybe two or three clubs that pay salaries regularly. At every month end, the players and their officials get their salaries like civil servants. You are aware that our Governor received an award for paying salaries promptly. So our footballers are paid at the same time with other civil servants. Apart from salaries, their match bonuses are paid as and when due. If you like, you can confirm from the players.
Do you think regular payment of salaries and allowances alone is enough motivation for the players?
They two are very fundamental in motivating players but we have gone beyond regular payment of salaries to other welfare packages. They players are well accommodated in our rented apartments. However, we are working on the team’s camp which is nearing completion. We want to bring all our players under the same roof for close monitoring. For now, they are very comfortable in the apartments we have provided for them
Talking about welfare and motivation, your players have complained of fatigue when they travel long distances by road to honour away matches. Are you not thinking of flying your team to away matches the way other clubs like Kano Pillars do?
I understand what you mean by this. However, the truth is that we are a smaller club so we cannot compare ourselves with established teams like Kano Pillars. They have been in the league for years. They have marketed players and are financially stronger than us. This is just our first year in the NPFL after a long time so our players should not be in a hurry. Moreover, we have a brand new 50 seater Marcopolo bus that takes the team to away matches. And in some matches, we make sure they arrive two days before the match. Our government has so many contending issues like health, education, agriculture, environment and insecurity to deal with. Unfortunately, funds are limited so in as much as sports is very important, the other sectors too need attention. We are in a time of insurgency so there are a lot of people who need assistance.
You just mentioned insurgency so Nigerians will like to know the role Yobe Stars are playing in the efforts to restore peace in the state.....
The club is helping a great deal in healing the wounds inflicted on the masses by insurgency. The sports arena is the only place where people go for recreation and also wipe away their trauma. This is why we are calling on the LMC to keep the two clubs, Yobe Desert Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors in their homes. These clubs are helping a lot in the fight against insurgency. Anytime you go to a match venue, you will see even very old people who have been so traumatized by insurgency cheering, discussing and enjoying themselves. Once that is happening, even their high blood pressure goes down. So it will make sense, if the LMC supports El-Kanemi Warriors and Yobe Stars to continue to play their home matches at home.
Are you aware that some clubs have complained that your pitch in Damaturu is not good enough to host league matches?
There is no iota of truth in this. I want you to confirm from FC IfeanyiUbah and MFM who visited us recently. They will tell you, if our pitch is not good enough. It is people who will tell you the truth. I tell you, our pitch is natural grass. If you compare our pitch with the other five natural playing turfs in Nigeria, ours will be first or second. Our pitch is better than UJ Esuene where Enyimba are playing league and continental matches.
Still talking about insurgency in Yobe State, how do you secure lives of visiting teams and spectators during matches?
Despite the fact that we are playing our matches in an insurgency area, our security arrangement before, during and after matches is superb. It is continental standard. During our matches we have enough army personnel, MOPOL, Civil Defence, and other security personnel who come to the stadium in plain clothes. We also have policemen on horses and you know that one horse is equal to almost 50 or 100 policemen. They are always there. There are also other security personnel who are on assignment in Yobe State. Anytime they are not on duty, they also come to the stadium to watch matches. They too can lend support, if there is any security challenge. When clubs come to play against Yobe Stars, they marvel at the level of security we have on ground.
Apart from Yobe Stars, how active is Yobe State in other sports?
Yobe State engages actively in other sports as well. We have the best hockey clubs in the country. Only recently, our female hockey team represented Nigeria in Ghana where they did very well. We also have basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis teams. There are at least 12 vibrant sports associations in the state. I also want to thank his Excellency for throwing his weight behind Para-soccer in the state. Our governor believes in giving equal opportunities to the physically challenged because he believes that there is ability in disability. It will interest you to know that he has graciously employed 18 para-soccer players who have been placed on monthly salaries. They are being paid salaries like other government employees. It will also interest you to know that some of the players are from Rivers, Lagos, Enugu and other northern states. The governor has taken them off the street and they are most grateful. Not long ago, they presented an award to him. In addition, our para-soccer team emerged winners of the recently held national open championship in Abuja. They have since dedicated their victory to His Excellency, Ibrahim Geidam. So I want Nigerians to know that sporting activities abound in Yobe State.
Your head is wearing so many caps. You are the Director of Yobe Sports Council and General Manager of Yobe Desert Stars. You are also an academic. How do you cope with these responsibilities?
As human beings, we must be ready to face pressure and challenges in life. And challenges ginger us to give our best to our communities. I was appointed Director of sports in 2013 by his Excellency, Ibrahim Geidam. I thank him so much for the wonderful opportunity to serve my state. Your ability is nothing without opportunity. It may interest you to know that because I want to serve my state, I voluntarily retired as a FIFA referee last year. I didn’t fail medical or physical fitness test but I decided to leave the stage for the younger ones. I also thank the NFF for giving me chance to serve the country. Out of over 180 million people, if one is among 30 FIFA referees, it is not a small achievement. It was great honour. I thank Nigerians who helped me with prayers when I was active. People pray for you when you are officiating. To answer your question, I effectively combine these responsibilities you have mentioned because if you are a thorough professional, you know how to go about everything. I have been a sports man right from my primary school days, to secondary school, College of Education where I read Physical and Health Education, to my first degree, second degree and now I am a doctorate degree holder. I got appointed when I was still lecturing in the university. I was also Director of sports there in the Yobe State University. Even when I was lecturing in the polytechnic in Potiskum, I was the sports officer. So sports administration is in my blood. Every day I wake up, I pray, jog and visit training grounds before coming home to shower and then resume at the office. This has been my daily routine. I am enjoying what I am doing and I believe my people also appreciate my contributions.