A former footballer, Billiaminu Umar, has spoken out about the neglect of the sports sector by the Sokoto state government. Despite his passion and talent for the sport, Umar’s career has been severely impacted by the lack of support and infrastructure.
Umar’s story is a testament to the struggles faced by many young athletes in Sokoto state. The state’s poor performance in national sports festivals, including finishing 36th out of 37 teams in 2020, is a stark reminder of the neglect of the sports sector.
In 2020, the state government under the administration of Aminu Tambuwal announced plans to construct a modern sports facility, but the project has yet to be completed. The government had released approximately N3.5 billion for the execution of the project, but it remains unclear what happened to the funds.
The neglect of the sports sector in Sokoto state has left many young athletes like Umar feeling disillusioned and without opportunities. As Umar sits idly outside the Giginya Memorial Stadium, he can’t help but wonder what could have been if the state government had invested in the sports sector.
