Ado Salisu
Former Chairman of the Gombe State Football Association, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, has called on Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Isyaka Rabiu, to channel his financial support towards the development of local football clubs and sports infrastructure in Nigeria rather than offering dollar incentives to Super Eagles players.
Gombe made the appeal in a statement posted on his social media platforms, arguing that the huge sums being used to motivate the national team players—whom he described as already wealthy—would have greater impact if invested in grassroots sports development.
He said, “At the risk of being attacked by social media bandits, I wish to express my opinion about the dollarisation of motivation by my brother, Abdul Samad Isyaka Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group. I call him my brother because two of his younger ones are my close friends, and I have spoken with them to express my reservations.”
According to him, the BUA chairman may have been ill-advised or may have taken the decision without adequate knowledge of the realities of Nigeria’s football and sports industry.
Gombe insisted that the funds being showered on the Super Eagles were going to people who neither needed nor would truly appreciate such gestures.
“This set of Super Eagles is the most ungrateful and unpatriotic group of players Nigeria has ever produced. If Abdul Samad’s gesture is out of patriotism, then he is wasting money on players who are not patriotic,” he stated.
The sports administrator further accused the players of blackmailing the country over allowances he described as insignificant compared to their earnings abroad.
He reminded the BUA chairman that his business empire thrives largely on Nigerian consumers, especially the masses who purchase products such as rice, sugar, salt and flour.
“If BUA had empowered football clubs in Abakaliki, Shagamu, Oron, Funtua, Dutse, Gboko, Offa, Numan, Kumo, Maiduguri, Gashua, Suleja, Lafia and other towns, Nigerians would remain grateful forever, and the impact of his charity would truly be felt,” he said.
Gombe lamented the poor state of domestic football, noting that major clubs such as Kano Pillars and Gombe United lack basic logistics, including team buses, while thousands of grassroots clubs cannot afford boots, balls and jerseys.
He added that critical areas such as the Nigeria Football Federation’s need for VAR technology, insurance cover for NPFL clubs, outside broadcast vans, and funding for the NNL, NLO and players’ unions remain unattended to.
He recalled that two seasons ago, Elkanemi Warriors travelled from Maiduguri to Ikenne in Ogun State before finding a suitable stadium for a continental match, describing the situation as a national embarrassment.
Gombe challenged Rabiu to consider adopting and upgrading major facilities such as the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano or the National Stadium in Lagos to international standards.
“Can BUA give just $200,000 to Owu Sports to produce kits for NPFL, NNL and NLO clubs, as well as national teams in volleyball, basketball and others?” he asked.
While acknowledging that the decision to support the Super Eagles had already been taken, Gombe maintained that good intentions could be counterproductive if not properly thought out.
“Many of our former national team players who made real sacrifices for this country are in need of support today. Let this money go to where it is truly needed, not to those who do not love Nigeria,” he concluded.