Sports

Basketball: When record speaks for Ahmadu Musa Kida

Published

3 years ago

May 22, 2022

News Net Global

Basketball: When record speaks for Ahmadu Musa Kida

By: James Bwala

The Basketball Federation has never had it so good until Ahmadu Musa Kida came onboard as its President in 2017. The successes achieved within the period of leading the Basketball were remarkable in the history of the federation in Nigeria. Many sport loving Nigerians who knew the federation long before now have been asking how Ahmadu Musa Kida made it where others failed.

NEWSng in its recent findings gathered that the NBBF President was not only in love with the game but had a bond with Basketball that he made such sacrifices no other person would have thought of doing for the game.

According to close associates of Ahmadu Musa Kida, he has put in over four billion naira (N4,000,000,000:00) from his personal wealth to save the federation from the administrative bottlenecks that would have slowed the pace of achievements as in other sports in Nigeria. Out of this amount, about half was refunded while over two billion naira (N2, 000,000,000:00) was still hanging with the ministry for payments.

Also Read: NBBF: Of Two Year Suspension in International Competition

It surprises sports loving Nigerians to understand that Ahmadu Musa Kida has sustained the Federation in virtually all outings including allowances, renting of pitch and hotel accommodation for players and officials, while the ministry continued to play politics with the game.

Speaking recently with a close associates of Ahmadu Musa Kida with information about the running of the federation, Madu Bata told NEWSng that, Ahmadu Musa Kida took the job of running the office of the President, when he won to serve his first term of office in 2017, with great sense of responsibility and commitment, in the sense that he was single handedly financing the activities of the Federation, personally, knowing so well that government bureaucracy will always be a problem in smooth funding as and when due, coupled with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic that grounded economic activities, globally.

According to Madu, “he personally funded both the “D Tigers “and D Tigress” international activities to success, at both continental and global levels, based on his personal commitment and adequate funding for the game.

“That he never waited for the release of funds from the government to adequately prepare the teams and go on tournaments to effectively represent Nigeria, as those approvals came very late, hence the enviable result making Nigeria as one of the greatest Basketball playing nations in the world. He did this, knowing fully well that the credit will go to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Why I said this is because at the time President Buhari was setting up his machinery of campaign around 2015. Ahmadu Musa Kida was then very optimistic that Buhari has what it takes to turn this country around. It was his fervent belief that despite the daunting challenge of fighting asymmetric war and the covid 19 pandemic, the President has been able to emerge very successful at the face of this critical period when the entire world was facing recession and other global challenges.

“The emergence of the D’Tigress as champion of the world was as a result of the commitment Ahmadu Musa Kida put and that was exactly what the country used as its pride in sports by showcasing the first cup the D’Tigress won, during Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary celebration.” Said Madu Bata.

Another personality Abba Kaka who spoke with NEWSng on the current development in the federation said “Ahmadu Musa Kida spent over N4,000,000,000.00 (Four Billion Naira) from his personal resources as well as borrowed funds to achieve the feet in NBBF, out of which only about 40% of such refundable funds were refunded to him as of now. So the allegations being peddled around that he misappropriated the Nigeria Basketball Federation funds are mendacious allegations that have no basis in law or common sense.

“It is strange for one to be accused of misappropriating his refunded funds. Musa Kida has made more personal sacrifices to the Nigerian Basketball Federation than all the former Presidents put together. His contribution include, but not limited to, engaging a National Basketball Association (NBA) of America accredited coach, paying competitive allowances for all the professional players that came to play for Nigeria, other fees required to get the signature of these professional players and to be released to play for Nigeria, hosting Nigeria players in the best hotels around the world and hiring basketball training ground in foreign countries to camp the teams, and other expenses he incurred and never demanded for a refund, as part of his contributions towards the growth and development of the game of Basketball.”

On the elections, Umaru Adamu said pursuant to the election which Ahmadu Musa Kida emerged as president, to serve his second and final term of four (4 )years was transparently conducted, free and fair, and according to the provisions of the NBBF approved constitution, with the absolute approval of the Minister and the Congress of the NBBF, that sanctioned that the elections be conducted in Benin, as approved by the congress of the NBBF.

“The election was conducted live and transmitted across the world,with FIBA officials, the world governing body, monitoring it, and at the end, adjudged to be one of the freest, fair and transparent elections ever monitored.

“For obvious reasons, however, the Ministry has refused to recognize the elections as they claim that another elections were conducted in Abuja, in clear contravention of the approvals of the NBBF congress, the electoral guidelines and the Provisions of the NBBF statutes( constitution), which the Ministry is now using to prevent a smooth transition to another board of a new term( 2022-2026).

“This is totally against the resolution of the Congress and contrary to the directives of the Supervising Minister of the Ministry, for the elections to be conducted in Benin, which the Secretary General of the Federation, a staff of the Ministry seconded to the Federation, flaunted the instruction of the Minister, by deliberately abstaining from the Benin elective congress.

” Let me informed you that Ahmadu Musa Kida inherited the administration of the game of Basketball, as President, from Tijjani Umar, who is a permanent Secretary in the Presidential Villa, who collected over $2,000,000.00 (Two Million Dollars) from Kwesse , the sponsors of the Basketball Premier League, to stage the 2017 league season, when he took over office, then they went to court to stop us from organizing the league for over three (3) years pursuant to which the tournament never held till this year, and the entire amount was embezzled with no record that it has been returned to the sponsors or the Federation’s coffers.

Also Read: NBBF President: Who Is Witch-Hunting Ahmadu Musa Kida?

“I do not know what Tijjani Umar was still doing in government services when he was supposed to have retired by now. We have an insider report on his records of service. We believe it is time to look into the records and see how he might have doctored his age to remain and lurking around. His interference in the activities of Basketball as well as the Ministry is counterproductive to supporting the activities of NBBF; the same bureaucracy that killed football and other sporting activities is now playing out in Basketball.” Said Umaru

NEWSng reports that the frequent unnecessary interference in sport administration by the supervising Ministry is against international best practice in sports, and empirical evidence have shown that the lackluster performance recorded in sport of recent, and Basketball in Particular, is caused by the unnecessary taking over of the Federation’s activities by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, that are supposed to play an oversight function only.

The recent call by the Ministry for the withdrawal of Nigeria from all International Basketball competition for two (2) years is not done in good faith or in the best interest of the game.

Basketball: When record speaks for Ahmadu Musa Kida

News

REJOINDER: ADDRESSING SLANDEROUS ATTEMPTS BY ABUBAKAR ABUBAKAR ON THE PERSON OF HONORABLE KHAMISU AHMED MAILANTARKI, PRESIDENT OF MAILANTARKI CARE FC, ABUJA

Published

3 weeks ago

April 21, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

REJOINDER: ADDRESSING SLANDEROUS ATTEMPTS BY ABUBAKAR ABUBAKAR ON THE PERSON OF HONORABLE KHAMISU AHMED MAILANTARKI, PRESIDENT OF MAILANTARKI CARE FC, ABUJA

By Adamu Usman Ahmed

The management of Mailantarki Care FC, Abuja, has noted with grave concern, the false, malicious, and misleading claims made by Abubakar Abubakar (Yellow) while granting an interview to a Morning Sports, a weekday English program by Amana Radio on Friday 18th April, 2025 in Gombe.

The fabricated statements made by Abubakar (Yellow) in its entirety was disgraceful to the Nigeria’s National team (U-20) for its official (Coordinator) who is neither a Media Manager nor the Administrative Secretary, to appear suddenly and without authorisation, on air for such spurious assertions aimed at tarnishing the remarkable image and overwhelming efforts of Honorable Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki on football development in Gombe State and Nigeria at large.

Abubakar blatantly lied during the radio interview on an internal issue concerning two clubs that he (Abubakar) was never in any point in time part of both teams (Mailantarki Care FC and Doma United FC) in whatsoever capacity neither was he a representative of the player in question (Haruna Aliyu) nor a spokesman of the National Team (U-20) or its administrative secretary.
In fact, during the partnership formalities of Haruna Aliyu between the two clubs in 2023, Abubakar was a coordinator at Gombe United and until date, he has never been part of any of the two clubs regarding any partnership of whatsoever player hence he had no genuine information to disseminate in public domain.

In his desperation to attack our club president’s effort on football development and progress in Gombe State and Nigeria at large by directly linking the exclusion of Gombe-born defender Haruna Aliyu in the final list of the National team U-20 ahead of the upcoming 2025 AFCON in Egypt.

To set the record straight, Hon Khamisu Mailantarki’s effort to elevate/promote Gombe State indigenes to the highest level of their respective football career, ensured an agreement reached between the two clubs and secured the services of the player (Haruna Aliyu) who further facilitated his invitation for a trial and consequently amazed the technical crew under the then U-20 National team Head Coach Isa Ladan Bosso ahead of the 13th African Games held in Ghana.

While Hon Mailantarki was busy sponsoring qualified Gombe State indigenes to a historic European tour in Denmark and Norway through his club, Mailantarki Care FC, instead of receiving motivations through commendations and accolades from the stakeholders in the state, people like Abubakar Abubakar opted for tort against the humble person of the President of the Mailantarki Care FC despite the fact that he operates as club owner with many officials including the club Technical Director, multi award-winning gaffer Manu Garba OON, the head coach of National team (U-17).

Thanks to the likes of Honorable Farouk Yarma, who provided an annual sports awards event (Prudential Sports Awards) for honoring outstanding sports individuals in the state, and of course in its maiden event Mailantarki was awarded for his immense contributions to grassroots football development in Gombe State.

More so on the issue raised regarding Aminu Muhammed (Obi) and Ibrahim Yahaya, who Abubakar falsely claimed were maltreated by our principle, which stand in contrast to the fact that both Aminu and Ibrahim were players of Mailantarki Care FC through a legitimate contractual agreement by their respective owners, and in the spirit of sportsmanship and the love of Gombe State, both players were allowed on free loan to continue playing for Gombe United considering their significant impacts towards the performance of the club in 2022/2023 season.

Both players are still rightful players of Mailantarki Care FC and are highly indebted with the show of great concern, commitment, and unending support towards their career development at various levels which includes successful outings with the National team U-20 at Niger Republic 2022 WAFU games in addition to a recent trial trip for Ibrahim Yahaya at Danish Super League club Aarhus Gymnastik Forening.

The then acting General Manager of Gombe United Abubakar Abubakar had deliberately blocked a potential career development trip facilitated by Mailantarki Care FC for the duo (Aminu and Yahaya) when they were clear favorite to clinch a professional contract with top European clubs moment after their brilliant outings at the WAFU 2022 zonal competition in Niger Republic, a move that could have generate an income to Gombe United as well.

Hon Mailantarki’s unending efforts towards the success and progress of young talented footballers in Gombe State and across the country Muhammed that he fully sponsored the first Gombe player Auwal Muhammed Adamu (Auwalulu) to secure a professional contract in one of the European clubs (Gandzasar FC, Armenia) in addition to young sensational full-back Jabir Hassan who is currently trading tackles with a Serbian club.

So many other players are currently undergoing trials in various elite development squads, beside several opportunities offered to Gombe based players for their respective career development through his Abuja based main team and the Gombe based U-17 feeders, Mailantarki is on the verge of sponsoring more qualified talents to yet another European scouting tours before the end of the current 2025 football calendar where more potential transfers are expected.

Abubakar’s lame attempt to smear Mailantarki’s praiseworthy efforts in the development of footballers’ career had ridiculed himself against the well established facts and record of players sponsored by Mailantarki (Flight ticket, accommodations, feeding, visas etc) to successful or otherwise trials in various European clubs while others formed part of the contingents that travelled to the 2022 and 2024 glorious international tours in Denmark and Norway as follows.

(Other Geo-political zones players not mentioned as we intended to repute the wrongly assertions by Abubakar Abubakar, who discredited the efforts of Mailantarki on the progress of Northern Players)

Gombe State:
Auwalu Muhammed Auwalulu (Gandzasar FC, Armenia), Abdulrahman Saidu (Salgeuros FC, Portugal), Sadeeq MB (Jammerbug FC, Denmark), Babawo Ibrahim (Jammerbugt FC, Denmark) Isiyaku Ligu (Denmark and Norway Cups), Amos John (Denmark and Norway Cups), Hamisu Ibrahim (Denmark and Norway Cups), Abdulazeez Maiyadi (Denmark and Norway Cups), Ibrahim Sani (Denmark and Norway cups), Adamu Gambo (Denmark and Norway cups), Abdulazeez Musa Bappa (Denmark and Norway cups).

Bauchi State:
Manji Williams (FK Abdish-Ata Kant, Kyrgyzstan), Sadiq Abdullahi (Jammerbug, Denmark), Promise Damala (Jammerbugt, Denmark), Nasiru Jibrin (Jammerbugt, Denmark), Abubakar Lamido (Denmark and Norway cups), Idris Ashiru (OPS Finland), Abdullahi Isa (Mosta FC, Malta).

Kano State:
Miko Dalha (Denmark and Norway cups), Usman Muhammed (Denmark and Norway cups), Hashim Muhammed (DFK Daivana, Lithuania), Usman Ghali (Jammerbugt IF, Denmark), Ishaq Usaini (Çorum FC, Turkey), Sabi’u Ibrahim (Aarhus FC, Denmark), Khalil Sammani (FDC Vista, Russia).

Adamawa State:
Ishaya Yuguda (St. Andrews FC, Malta), Silas Alfred (Hibbernians FC, Malta), Simon Gaston (Jammerbugt FC, Denmark), Auwal Abba (Mosta FC, Malta).

Benue State:
Victor Ochayi (Septemvri Sofia, Bulgaria), Miracle Williams (Kryvbas Rih, Ukraine)

FCT, Abuja:
Izuchukwu Daniel (FC Van, Armenia), Joel Zachariah (Monaco FC, France)

Borno State:
Tijjani Mohammed (Hammarby IF, Sweden).

Yobe State: Muhammed Abdullahi (Jammerbugt IF, Denmark).

Katsina State:
Yusha’u Armiya’u (Fredek-Mistek FC, Poland)

Abubakar, who is deploying all possible means to divert the attention of Gombe State football stakeholders and enthusiasts of the round leather game from his inability to facilitate even a trial call-up to any of Gombe State talented stars in the National team U-20 hence his desperate defamatory and baseless claims on the person of Honorable Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, who established himself as one of the brightest football club owners/administrators in Northern Nigeria and the country at large.

The Nigeria Football Federation NFF’s decision to de-list the player in question, Haruna Aliyu from the final list of the upcoming U-20 AFCON in Egypt was best known to them as the apex football governing body in the country, which has several committees under which respective decisions are made, and as at the time of writing this response there is no official statement issued yet by any of the NFF’s committees in that regard, beside they are at liberty of not issuing any statement since a certain number of players must be shortlisted from the invited players based on the recommendation of the team’s technical crew.

However, while we await a possible official statement regarding the reason for the player’s absence from the final list, we at Mailantarki Care FC are saddened with the development, especially on the part of the club president who champion the cause of Haruna’s National team assignment few years back.

Most likely, the decision could be connected to the conflict of interest on the player’s part whom was ill-advised and misled to signed another different contract despite having a binding pre-contract agreement with Mailantarki Care FC, a decision amount to a breach of contract, an act that can cause instability in the player’s psychological prowess as the shenanigans took place while he was in his final camping exercise ahead of the upcoming U-20 AFCON slated to kick start in few days.

Haruna Aliyu had already agreed and signed a pre-contract with Mailantarki Care FC that is binding, hence becomes a player of Mailantarki at the end of the current Nigeria National League (NNL) 2024/2025 season, the development ensured after the player’s decision not to extend his contract with his present club Doma United beyond the 2024/2025 season.

A pretence Abubakar Abubakar went further to even dragged the name of a high-profile staff of the NFF, Nasiru Jibrin, whom he said the latter clears ways and gave a go ahead to legitimized an act of ‘conflict of interest’ against the rule book of the apex football governing body.

Just so you know, Mailantarki Care FC made a name for itself in the football industry for its unique identity and accomplishments in just 4 years of existence so far where several talented players successfully transferred to various clubs in Europe, wins three International Youth Championships in a remarkable record breaking outings in Norway (Norway Cup) and Denmark (Dana Cup) in its debut year 2022 and 2024 respectively, won Abuja FA Cup, promoted to the 2nd tier of the league among others.

Furthermore, in its debut year of existence in 2021, the club held the first-ever scouting tournament (Gombe to Europe) involving European football managers in the history of Gombe State, a successful program held at the Pantami Stadium that paved way to so many Gombe State indigenes to travel to various European clubs especially Portugal and Denmark.

Upon completing its multi-billion naira ‘Mailantarki Sports Complex’ in the heart of Abuja, the club will become the standout among its peers not only in Nigeria but the continent at large, so the likes of Abubakar Abubakar, should rather follow suits in aiding headways to achieve an optimal desired success of the beautiful game of football in Gombe State and Nigeria at large.

Sunday 20th April, 2024

Adamu Usman Ahmed ASM, AMInsTA
Director of Media and Communications
Mailantarki Care FC
Abuja, Nigeria.

REJOINDER: ADDRESSING SLANDEROUS ATTEMPTS BY ABUBAKAR ABUBAKAR ON THE PERSON OF HONORABLE KHAMISU AHMED MAILANTARKI, PRESIDENT OF MAILANTARKI CARE FC, ABUJA

News

INTERNATIONAL GOLFERS ARRIVE DELTA STATE

Published

3 weeks ago

April 20, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

INTERNATIONAL GOLFERS ARRIVE DELTA STATE

· LATE OLARE-AJA OF KOKO GOLF TOURNAMENT BEGINS IN KOKO

· AKOGATE, COUNTRY CLUB UNVEIL ACTIVITIES FOR AGANBI MEMORIAL

By: Our Reporter

The Late Olare-Aja of Koko Golf Classic is due to begin on Friday, April 25, 2025 in Delta State.

The tournament scheduled from April 25-27 will be held at Country Club, Canaan Land.

‘’The invitational event is to celebrate the life and legacy of Deacon S. E. Aganbi, Second Republic Politician, Bible Interpreter and Revered Founder of Canaan Land, who served his people with unwavering dedication until his passing. It is also to honour his enduring values of leadership, integrity, love and cultural stewardship’’ a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Akogate Group, Felix Aganbi said.

The statement issued in Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area, expressed excitement about the tournament’s potential success.

‘’ ‘’There is a huge amount at stake. We are looking forward to the top talent from across the world competing at the Late Olare-Aja of Koko Golf Classic. We are also looking forward to a memorable weekend filled with friendship, competition and community spirit.

The statement highlighted Akogate’s role in the advancement of sports and inspiration of sportspersons in Nigeria and abroad.

‘’We are excited by the overall enthusiasm of amateur and professional golfers towards the history making Late Olare-Aja of Koko Golf Classic’’

The statement unveiled badminton, table tennis, darts, Ayo, Ludo, cocktail night and award presentation party as activities lined up for the celebration of the life of the renowned lawyer and politician’’.

It further highlighted the exceptional opportunity for rising stars to compete against world-class players.

‘There are a lot of players who will be playing. There are also many players on the waiting list hoping to gain entry. It will be a star-studded field’’ the statement added.

INTERNATIONAL GOLFERS ARRIVE DELTA STATE

National News

Zuwaira Gambo Commemorates Youth-Led Football Tournament Advocating Peace

Published

5 months ago

December 2, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zuwaira Gambo Commemorates Youth-Led Football Tournament Advocating Peace

… FC Yazuzu wins Borno Model Competition with a 3-0 victory

By: Our Reporter

The Hon. Commissioner for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Borno State, Hajjia Zuwaira Gambo, graced the grand finale of a youth-driven football tournament designed to promote peace and unity in the region. The event, a flagship of the Borno Model initiative, featured teams comprising repented insurgents and local youth, showcasing sports as a powerful tool for reconciliation and community building.

The final match saw FC YaZuzu, representing Hon. Zuwaira Gambo, clinch an emphatic 3-0 victory over FC Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq, which represented the Senior Special Adviser on Security to the Governor. The spirited competition and resounding cheers from spectators highlighted the community’s commitment to fostering harmony and rebuilding trust.

After presenting the championship trophy to FC YaZuzu, Hon. Gambo lauded the youth for their initiative and vision. She remarked, “This tournament transcends football; it symbolizes hope, unity, and a brighter future led by the youth of Borno. Your efforts are a testament to the resilience and potential within our communities.”

She extended gratitude to Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq for his pivotal support and emphasized how the event aligns with Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s vision for youth empowerment and sustainable social development.

The celebrations that followed the trophy presentation underscored the triumph of collective action and served as a poignant reminder of the transformative impact of youth-led initiatives in building a peaceful and unified Borno.

Zuwaira Gambo Commemorates Youth-Led Football Tournament Advocating Peace