By Ado Salisu
The Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar has described the competition for his trophy as a platform to discover talented players who would eventually calibrate their gains to seek for greener pastures globally.
Emir Abubakar dropped this hint during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Gombe Emir’s Cup soccer competition tagged ‘King’s Cup’ organized and sponsored by Hon. Ahmad Shuaibu Gara Gombe, the Chief Executive Officer of Green White Green, held at Pantami Stadium in Gombe.
The Emir who was represented by Wakilin Birnin Gombe, Alhaji Dalhatu Babayo said that the tournament was a serious platform for the players to showcase their skills and talents to the world.
He charged the participants in the competition across the state to exhibit sportsmanship and unity towards the success of the championship.
While expressing appreciation to Hon. Ahmad Shuaibu Gara Gombe for sponsoring the tournament among young footballers across the state, he called for more sporting events in order not only to keep the youth busy but to sustain peace and unity in the state.
Speaking, the President of the Nigerian Football Federation NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau who was represented by an Executive member of the Federation, Mr. Timothy Heman Magaji, described the Emir’s Cup as a big tournament, pledging that the NFF will support the organisers towards the success of the championship.
Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau also expressed the Federation’s commitment and determination to continue to work with football stakeholders so as to develop the game across the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, the competition’s sponsor Hon. Gara Gombe thanked the state government, the Gombe Emirate Council and all those who have contributed in one way or the other towards a colourful opening ceremony, calling for more support in the preliminaries and knock-out stage.
Hon. Gara Gombe pledged to continue to make the championship an annual event as part of his contributions to the development of the game as well as sustenance of unity and peace among various Emirates in the state.
Eminent personalities and traditional title holders as well as football stakeholders within and outside the state graced the opening ceremony.
In an opening match, Gombe Emirate and its Nafada counterpart played a goalless draw. Preliminary matches would commence soon, the organisers said.
Highlights of the event include declaration of the competition open.
