The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, on Friday evening, placed an important phone call to players and officials of Nasarawa United Football Club ahead of the team’s last Conference C game against hosts, Zamfara United FC, on Saturday, 27th, April, 2024.
During the team’s pre-game in-house pep-talk held at their hotel accommodation in Sokoto, the Deputy Governor, in the telephone conversation, said;
“Due to the value the Government attaches to this game against Zamfara United, His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule, approved money to enable the team go to the match venue by air so as to ease the stress of travelling by road. Unfortunately, all efforts to secure available flights for the entire traveling team proved abortive.
“We are a people of faith, so, when things don’t work as we planned, we allow the will of God to take preeminence because only God knows best why that happened, despite all the efforts Government put in place to secure a flight.
“We are sorry for everything that happened, but again, everything works for good.
“However, since we can’t secure the flight to airlift you to Sokoto, the money is still yours.
“All we need from you guys is, at least, a draw, tomorrow, and you will all see what the Government of Engr. Abdullahi Sule will do for you.
“We are with you, and praying with you, and by the grace of God, and with your collective efforts, we shall all have cause to celebrate.
“We also pray God to bring you back home safely after the game.”
Physically present in Sokoto with the team during the virtual communication with the Deputy Governor were the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Nasarawa State, Jafaru Ango, alongside Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, and Chairman, Nasarawa State Football Association, Salisu Galadima ‘Basira’, while some indigenes of Nasarawa State resident in Sokoto State, notably the Sarkin Samarin Wamba, Usman Tanze Danjuma, also visited the team to boost the players’ morale.
The Commissioner and Permanent Secretary had earlier apologized to the team for the unfortunate flight incident but were optimistic that the ugly situation would not deter the team from picking the maximum points at the Giginya Memorial Stadium, Sokoto, when Nasarawa United lock horns with Zamfara United by 3pm in the last game of Conference C of the 2023/24 Nigeria National League Season to determine which team joins El-Kanemi Warriors FC in the Super Eight Play-off competition to produce eventual qualifiers for the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League Season.
The Solid Miners, 2nd on the Conference C table with 32 points, two behind table-topping El-Kanemi Warriors, have the opportunity to go top of their Group should they achieve victory in Saturday’s match-day sixteen game, but a point would equally be enough to secure advancement to the final stage of the qualifiers ahead of 3rd-placed Wikki Tourists who have 29 points from fifteen games.
Recall that Governor Abdullahi Sule, during the week, had approved a request by the Management of Nasarawa United to go to Sokoto, temporary home ground for Zamfara United FC, by Air, to conserve energy and reduce the traveling time by road so as to better prepare the team for the expected result enroute to the Super Eight Play-off.
