It was a gathering of who is who in the world of football on the Plateau as the Plateau State Football Association, led by Hon Dr Suleiman Yahaya Kwande held its first Annual General Meeting yesterday.
The first AGM, held at the Eagle Valley Hotel, Jos, had in attendance the Plateau State Director of Sports, Professor Ezra Gunen, former PFA Chairman, Hon. Sunday Samson Longbap, former PFA Normalization Committee Chairman, Hon. Audu Tigana Yakal, Hon. Dr. Suleiman Yahaya, his Excos, Board Members, Congress men and delegates comprising of LGC FA Chairmen and Sports Secretaries, and other football stakeholders were all on ground.
Answering questions thrown at him by journalists, the former PFA Chairman, Hon. Sunday Longbap, says: “I implore the Congress of Plateau State Football Association today to look at the programs laid down by the Chairman, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande which to me are productive, to who? To the inhabitants of Plateau State and for what? For the focus of development and developing what? The game of football. That’s my desire and anything short of it, will take our football backwards of which Plateau State is not known for.
On the success of the Congress, Hon Longbap posited: “From the roll call and the response, I think it’s only one or two local government areas that are on their way, all other local government areas are already seated. That means unity exists and apart from the unity, there’s cohesion which is for the benefit of Plateau State.
He concludes: “The PFA should be very strict with the adherence to the rules and regulations. Its statutes is everything, anything you are doing outside the statutes is suicidal. I want us to imbibe the principle of association football, purely association football. What I mean about association football: You are the ultimate, you are the alpha. Nobody dictates where football should be to you. You are to spell out everything, every nitty-gritty no matter the club side, whether professional, amateur or whatever, they are under the association. Because they are playing association football. You know that there is association football and government football.”
On his own part, the former Normalization Committee Chairman, Hon. Audu Tigana Yakal positions: “The choice to bring Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande as the Chairman of Plateau State Football Association wasn’t by mistake. I remember even the pressure, all sorts of things that we came across before the election, we stood firm because we’ve been guided by the NFF led by the President, Alh. Ibrahim Gusau, we had their support. He gave us the all support needed to make sure we were able to conduct a peaceful and fair election which we did. I’m happy seeing the steps the current PFA Chairman is taking in developing football on the Plateau, I want to tell you is one of its kind we are seeing today. I remember years back, you hardly see age competition, Governor’s Cup final been played, we played the 2023 final this year during the raining season and here we are we are set for the 2024 edition of the Governor’s Cup. I’m a proud and happy person today for all these achievements. I can’t round it up without appreciating the government too. Seeing how the government has given them the enabling environment and all the support .Believing that football is the rallying point in bringing all categories of people together not minding their Faith or belief. This is something great that’s making me a happy person today.
Hon Yakal concluded: “I will first expect them to look into the statutes of Plateau State Football. As we grow, things unfold. Because of that we expect some new developments in the statutes we have on ground. We discovered that there are some loopholes. And I believe they will look into it.
Another thing I want to point out is the format of this year’s Governor’s Cup. Since they’ve decided to centralize it is to have the opportunity for them to be seen by coaches and scouts.”
In separate remarks, Plateau State Director of Sports, Professor Ezra Gunen, praised the PFA led by Hon Dr Suleiman Yahaya Kwande for bringing life to football on the Plateau.
The PFA Chairman, Hon. Dr. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, full of joy reiterates: “I appreciate all members present, and thanked the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Bar. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for his prompt approval of all PFA programs and support which has given the FA reasons to do more for football at the grassroots. The positive outcome can be seen in the recent U-15 tournament which saw Plateau State U-15 boys dominating the national U-15 team selected to travel to Morocco this week.”
The PFA Chairman promised to double-up efforts for more impact to be felt across the State.
