By Our Sports Reporter

Sports, particularly football, have been identified as a powerful instrument for addressing security challenges and promoting unity among youths in Gombe State.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Green White Green Nigeria Limited, Ahmed Shaibu Gara Gombe, made this known while speaking with journalists in Gombe following a stakeholders’ meeting on the proposed Gombe Emir’s Cup Football Tournament.

Gara Gombe explained that the Emir’s Cup initiative is aimed at constructively engaging young people and redirecting their energy away from drug abuse, phone snatching, thuggery and other social vices that threaten peace and security in the state.

According to him, the tournament will feature football teams drawn from various emirates and chiefdoms across Gombe State, with traditional institutions serving as a rallying point to foster unity, cultural pride and peaceful coexistence among communities.

He noted that beyond promoting peace, the competition will also serve as a platform for discovering, nurturing and showcasing football talents, stressing that many youths possess raw abilities that only need the right opportunity to flourish.

“The opportunity for players to represent their respective emirates brings a strong sense of pride and belonging. It helps instill discipline, teamwork and responsibility among youths, while also strengthening unity across the state,” he said.

The GWG Nigeria Limited boss further disclosed that a trophy tour for the Emir’s Cup is scheduled to commence on Monday, during which the trophy will be taken to the palaces of emirs and chiefs across the state. He said the tour is intended to mobilise grassroots support, encourage participation and secure the backing of traditional rulers for the success of the tournament.

Stakeholders at the meeting described the initiative as timely and strategic, particularly in view of the growing need to engage youths positively and address security concerns through non-violent and inclusive approaches.

They called on youths, community leaders, traditional rulers and football enthusiasts across Gombe State to embrace the Emir’s Cup Football Tournament as a pathway to peace, unity and sustainable youth development.

By Our Correspondent

Abuja-based football club, Mailantarki Care FC have embarked on yet another brilliant international outing as they began their Gothia Cup 2025 campaign in emphatic style, thrashing Swedish side IFK Kumla 6-0 in their Group stage opener on Monday.

This is coming bare a year after Mailantarki FC won the most recent youth tournament in Denmark, emerging as the overall winners during the 2024 Dana Cup
A resounding 6-nil victory in the Gothia Cup opener against one of the host clubs, IFK Kumpa, has sent a clear message to the rival clubs in the tournament.

With much intent and a high-pressing game, the boys undid stubborn IFK Kumla, who proved to be more physical in the first 5 minutes before Ejiogu Samuel broke the jinx following his brilliant individual effort from the left flank.

The goals kept pouring in as IFK conceded further 3 goals courtesy of Apas Abel, Sadiq Ashiru, and Akiemute Godstime to round off the first half with a 4-nil comfortable lead.

However, Chukwusa Mathew bagged a brace after the restart to complete the rout on the Kumla based club.

Up next for the rising stars is German club MTV Ramelsloh on Tuesday 15th July, 2025 at the same venue of Torslandavallen, Gothenburg.”

Reacting to the win, Coach Idris Mohammed of Mailantarki FC described the win as a good morale booster for his boys while promising to ensure that his team work harder to sustain the feat.

He lauded his boys and the club management for their support.

Our Correspondent reports that Gothia Cup is the world’s largest and most international youth football tournament in Gothenburg, the second largest in Sweden after Stockholm.

The tournament runs from 13 to 19 July, with matches played on pitches across the city and surrounding areas.
Each year, around 1,700 teams from 80 countries take part in Gothia Cup.
This year, Gothia Cup celebrates its 50th anniversary having been on since 1975, with over one million young players from 147 nations have taken part in the event.

By Our Correspondent

Mailantarki Care FC has issued a strongly worded rejoinder in response to what it described as “false, malicious, and slanderous” claims made by Abubakar Abubakar, popularly known as “Yellow”, during a recent radio interview on Amana Radio’s Morning Sports program.

In a detailed statement signed by the club’s Director of Media and Communications, Adamu Usman Ahmed, the management of the Abuja-based club accused Abubakar of spreading baseless allegations aimed at discrediting the club’s president, Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, and undermining his contributions to grassroots football development, particularly in Gombe State.

False Allegations on Haruna Aliyu’s Exclusion

According to the rejoinder, Abubakar—who is a coordinator with Gombe United FC—made unfounded comments linking Hon. Mailantarki to the exclusion of Gombe-born defender Haruna Aliyu from the Nigerian U-20 national team’s final squad list for the upcoming AFCON tournament in Egypt.

The club categorically dismissed Abubakar’s claims, pointing out that he holds no official role within Mailantarki Care FC, Doma United FC, or the U-20 national team. The statement emphasized that he lacked the authority or factual knowledge to speak on issues surrounding player transfers or national team selections.

“Abubakar was never part of any partnership discussions involving Haruna Aliyu and has no stake in either of the clubs. His remarks are nothing but a desperate attempt to smear the reputation of a man whose only ‘offense’ is investing heavily in football development,” the statement read.

Mailantarki’s Track Record in Football Development

Mailantarki Care FC used the opportunity to highlight the numerous initiatives and milestones recorded under Hon. Mailantarki’s leadership since the club’s inception in 2021. These include:

Sponsorship of players to Europe for trials and professional contracts.

Winning international youth championships such as the Dana Cup (Denmark) and Norway Cup.

Hosting the first-ever European scouting tournament in Gombe State.

Promoting indigenous talent through its Abuja-based senior team and Gombe-based U-17 feeder team.

Construction of a multi-billion-naira sports complex in Abuja.

Notable players who have benefited from Mailantarki’s sponsorship include Auwalu Mohammed Adamu (Armenia), Abdulrahman Saidu (Portugal), and Sadeeq MB (Denmark), among several others across various northern Nigerian states.

Rebuttal on Player Mismanagement Claims

The rejoinder also addressed allegations made by Abubakar regarding two players—Aminu Mohammed (Obi) and Ibrahim Yahaya—who he claimed were mistreated by Mailantarki. The club clarified that the players were legally contracted to Mailantarki Care FC and were loaned freely to Gombe United during the 2022/2023 season. It further alleged that Abubakar, during his tenure as acting General Manager of Gombe United, obstructed a European career opportunity for the duo after their impressive performance at the 2022 WAFU zonal competition in Niger Republic.

Awaiting Clarity on Haruna Aliyu’s AFCON Exclusion

On the matter of Haruna Aliyu’s omission from the U-20 AFCON squad, the club stated that the decision rests with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and its technical committees. While disappointed, they suspect the exclusion may stem from contractual conflicts involving the player, who allegedly signed a new deal elsewhere despite a binding pre-contract agreement with Mailantarki Care FC.

Final Word: Focus on Football, Not Slander

In closing, the club called on football stakeholders in Gombe State and Nigeria at large to focus on meaningful contributions rather than divisive and defamatory rhetoric. The statement encouraged individuals like Abubakar Abubakar to channel their energy towards genuine football development rather than public character assassination.

“The facts speak for themselves. Hon. Khamisu Mailantarki has not only raised the bar in football development in Northern Nigeria but has created life-changing opportunities for dozens of young talents,” the statement concluded.

About Mailantarki Care FC

Founded in 2021, Mailantarki Care FC has risen rapidly through Nigeria’s football ranks, boasting international tournament wins, player transfers to Europe, and a growing reputation for nurturing homegrown talent. The club’s long-term vision includes the soon-to-be-completed Mailantarki Sports Complex in Abuja, poised to be one of the top sports facilities on the continent.