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The 21st National Sports Festival final medals table where Taraba State came distant 33rd
By Samuel Torlumun
The need to develop a robust sports programme to return Taraba State to its past glory has been strongly advocated by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Hon. Danladi Baido.
The SDP candidate observed that the pride of place of the state in the sporting world has totally eroded and collapased.
Hon. Baido made the remark in a statement to Apex News Exclusive by his Special Assistant on Media, Anthony Maliki on the backdrop of the dismal performance of Taraba State team to the just-concluded 21st National Sports Festival at Asaba in Delta State.
Taraba State came a distance 33rd position out of 36 states and FCT with a mere two silver and six bronze medals.
According to him, Taraba State that has been known to produce talented sportsmen and women has been left behind because of neglect of the sector by past administrations.
He also observed the decay of sporting facilities across the state due to lack of maintenance and the need to put them to shape.
Hon. Baido noted that sports has multi-dimensional benefits which would be given priority by his administration when elected as Governor of Taraba State in 2023.
The SDP candidate noted areas to priority among others, the reintroduction of the Taraba State Sports Festival where hidden talents will be discovered, introduction of a school sports programme across the senatorial districts for healthy competition among students which will help curb vices and give youths a sense of direction in life.
He stressed that sports will take youths out of the streets, provide job opportunities and drive positive and societal change and develop sound moral virtues when fully harnessed.
Hon. Baido also stressed that the serene Mambilla Plateau can be developed to provide athletics training.
According to him, it is so sad that Taraba United FC, Jalingo that has take the name of the state on the Nigerian sports map was left to fiddle out.
Hon. Baido recalled with great pride efforts of past sports administrators from the state especially Chief Sunday Dankaro who was the chairman of the former Nigerian Football Association (NFA) from 1974 to 1980 under who’s tenure the then Green Eagle won its first African Nations Cup.
In fact, Sunday Dankaro’s brother, John played for the Nigerian National Football team that toured Europe in 1949 along with Teslim Balogun, Etim Henshaw and Daniel Anyiam among others.
The SDP candidate said if the state can produce such sports personalities decades ago, it can do better now.
He charged the youths and all lovers of sports to look the direction of voting for the SDP in other to give the sector its rightful place in the state and return Taraba to the sporting map.
