Yola-South LGA inter-wards football championship showcases skillful players

Written by Blessed Adjekpagbon

The ongoing Yola-South Local Government Area Inter-wards football competition in Adamawa State, North Eastern Nigeria, is a welcomed development for the engagement of the youths in the area for meaningful focus on life changing goals.

Mr. Anas Suleiman

While speaking with Bulkybon News on 16 August 2025, at the Aliyu Musdafa College, along Yola By-Pass, where the competition is taking place, Mr. Anas Suleiman, the representative of a Nongovernmental organisation sponsoring the event said that, “The competition is organised by a Nongovernmental organisation known as Ahmad Uthman Purelife Foundation. It is aimed at uniting the youths of Yola-South on one hand, and to fulfill some Social Development Goals (SDG:1,2,3,4 to 13) on the other.”

Mr. Shehu Abdulkadir Bako

He added that “The foundation is not just only using the ongoing inter-wards football competition to unite the youths, it has many other areas it is focusing on for youth development, such as, the provision of some basic things like note books and reading materials for primary and secondary school learners in the local government area.”

Also speaking in the same vein, Mr. Shehu Abdulkadir Bako, Secretary of Yola South Coaches Council pointed that, “Mr. Ahmad Uthman is the founder of the Ahmad Uthman Purelife Foundation. This competition is being fully funded by him. He is doing it to foster unity among the youths in the eleven wards of Yola-South Local Government Area.”

However, he further informs that, “Many of the youths are being engaged in sport, to occupy them for further competitions with other wards outside Yola-South. They are likely to compete with other wards outside Yola-South Local Government Area.”

When asked about who is responsible for the welfare of the participating wards, especially the kits they are using to partake in the championship, he stated that, “The founder, Mr. Ahmad Uthman provided kits for all the participating wards. He brought the teams under the supervision of Yola-South Coaches Council headed by Mr. Akilu Mustapha, for proper organisation.”

Nonetheless, Bulkybon News was also told that the championship is an eleven-day event which began on 14 August 2025. Trophies and cash gifts will be presented to the three top winning teams. All the participating teams are also going to receive some forms of consolation prizes.

Notably, on 16 August 2025, a match that was billed to take place at the venue of the competition between Tongo Ward and Yolde Koyi Ward did not take place, as the latter failed to show up.

Mr. Hamid Mahmud Gambo

Mr. Hamid Mahmud Gambo, the coach of Tongo Ward said, “Our opponent did not show up probably due to the time the match was fixed to take place, between 7am and 9am. Their ward is far away from the venue, and that might probably be the reason they could not come. So, we had a walk over of their team.”

Another match played on the same day by 4pm was between Adarawo Ward and Ngurore Ward. It was a highly contested match as both teams showed the stuff they are made of. However, Adarawo took their opponent to the cleaners with a well-deserved 3-1 win at the end. Adarawo scored first during the first half, while Ngurore equalized towards the end of the first half before a compulsory 15-minute interval break.

Tongo Ward team and their coach (Hamid)

In the second half, Adarawo came onto the pitch smoking with great ball control and football mastery. Their supporters added mesmerizing music to the atmosphere which further gingered the players to showcase some of their hitherto hidden skills. Hence, within a space of 20 minutes, they scored another goal to make the score line 2-1.

While still basking on the mellifluence music from their vibrant supporters, Adarawo hit Ngurore with an additional classic goal within six minutes after the second goal. This made the score line 3-1. The third goal no doubts made the opponents crestfallen. All their efforts to concentrate and make meaningful moves towards Adarawo’s goal area ended fruitless, until the referee’s final whistle sent the winning team and the supporters into a great jubilation.

Mr Sanusi Umar, Adarawo's coach.

However, spectators were highly impressed by the performances of the players in Adarawo’s team. Some of the notable players in the team include those who wore jerseys number 2 and 14. Bulkybon News correspondent congratulated the coach, Mr. Sanusi Umar and his team at the end of the proceedings. 

This is an opportunity for Nigerian national football league coaches searching for new players to sign on, to take advantage of, by visiting the venue of the competition. 

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