*Plateau Sports Leadership Pledges Continuity, Grassroots Development and Bigger Fan Base*

The newly sworn-in Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comrade Prince Miaphen, has pledged to consolidate the achievements recorded in the state’s sports sector while introducing fresh initiatives aimed at strengthening grassroots participation, talent development and fan engagement.

Miaphen stated this after the final of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Super Six tournament in Jos, where he outlined his administration’s commitment to building on the foundation laid by his predecessor rather than starting afresh.

According to him, the previous administration made significant progress in popularising sporting activities across Plateau State, providing a foundation that the new leadership intends to strengthen.
“I want to consolidate on what my predecessor has started. You can see that he has brought a lot of changes as far as sporting activities are concerned on the Plateau. He has popularised sporting activities more than ever before,” Miaphen said.

The commissioner described his predecessor as a long-standing friend, stressing that their relationship would make it easier to exchange ideas and ensure continuity in the development of sports in the state.
He said the new administration would study both the successes and shortcomings of the previous administration, with the objective of improving areas that require attention.
“We will learn from what he has done, the mistakes he must have made. We will share notes, and I can assure you that we will improve upon where he must have stopped,” he said.

A major focus of the new administration, Miaphen explained, would be grassroots sports development, which he identified as critical to discovering and nurturing future sporting talents.
He said Plateau State would prioritise wider participation and mobilisation at the grassroots, noting that many of the country’s outstanding athletes were discovered through grassroots competitions.
“I will prioritise my administration on grassroots participation and mobilisation, while we improve on people’s participation in most of our matches,” he stated.

Beyond developing athletes, the commissioner said efforts would be made to attract larger crowds to sporting events across the state.
He argued that increased attendance and fan support could motivate athletes and players to perform at a higher level.

Miaphen therefore assured sports lovers that the state would witness increased mobilisation to stadiums and other sporting venues in the coming months.
“You will see a much more crowded supporters and fan base here in most of our stadiums,” he said.

The commissioner also stressed that the focus would not be limited to football, but would extend to the numerous sporting associations operating in Plateau State.
He acknowledged the support of the Plateau State Government under Governor Caleb Mutfwang for sporting activities, noting that the state has about 36 recognised sporting associations, many of which have already hosted competitions.

The former Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Ibrahim Ashoms, who is now the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, also expressed confidence in Miaphen’s ability to build on the existing foundation.

Ashoms said there was always room for improvement in every administration, particularly in the area of mobilising spectators and creating greater public awareness around sporting events.
“For every development, there’s room for improvement,” Ashoms said, identifying increased mobilisation as one area where the new commissioner could make a difference.

He explained that greater attendance at sporting events would help athletes understand that they were performing before an engaged audience, thereby encouraging them to raise their level of performance.
Ashoms also emphasised the importance of continuity, saying the mistakes made under his administration should provide lessons for the new leadership, while successful initiatives should be strengthened.
“The mistakes we’ve made, we’ll make sure that he corrects them, and the areas that we’ve achieved a lot, we’ll make sure that he consolidates on those areas and give us better results,” he said.

He further called for stronger collaboration between government, individuals and private-sector stakeholders in developing sports in Plateau State.

According to him, sports development should not be left entirely in the hands of government, as sustained progress requires the involvement of well-meaning individuals and organisations.
“If you allow football to just be in the hands of government, a lot of things are going to go south,” Ashoms cautioned.

He cited recent sporting initiatives across the state, including the Governor’s Cup, local government chairmen’s competitions and other grassroots tournaments, as examples of activities that could provide platforms for young people to discover their sporting potential.

Ashoms also pointed to the potential of competitions organised by individuals and communities, such as the proposed Uja-Anaguta competition, as part of the broader ecosystem required to develop sports.
He said such initiatives could complement government programmes and provide additional opportunities for young talents.

The former commissioner described Miaphen as a young leader with significant followership, expressing optimism that his ability to mobilise people would translate into stronger attendance at football matches and other sporting events.
He said increased exposure to sporting activities could also inspire younger people to take up sports and eventually develop into competitive athletes.
Ashoms reaffirmed that the state government remains committed to football and other sporting disciplines, stressing that the transition in leadership should be viewed as a continuation of the state’s broader sports development agenda.
“Governance is a continuum. It’s going to continue from where we stopped, and I know that he’s going to do better,” he said.
With the new commissioner now assuming responsibility for the sector, attention will turn to how effectively the administration can translate its promises of grassroots mobilisation, talent identification, fan engagement and broader stakeholder collaboration into measurable results across Plateau State.