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By Abiodun Adewale
A former President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation and Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, says the Nigerian hockey family plans to rename a stadium after their late former president, Bukar Abba.
Abba, a former Governor of Yobe Stat, died at the age of 73 after a brief illness February 4 in Saudi Arabia.
The late NHF president was renowned for building a world-class hockey astro turf stadium in Damaturu, Yobe State while the country also recorded its first ever participation in FIH World Youth Hockey Marathon in Damaturu in 2007.
“Abba, because of his love for sports and hockey in particular, formed the team called Yobe Desert Runners and they dislodged former champions from Delta, Katsina, Lagos and they became synonymous with hockey development in Nigeria,” Ningi said at the Senate.
“At the time he was Governor, his team supplied the Nigerian national team with at least nine players and they became champions for four consecutive times in Nigeria, they became African champions two times and also won the JF Kennedy Championship for four consecutive times in the United States.
“I think we should not forget this man and we in hockey are putting our heads together to know which stadium we will rename after him.”
Also, coordinator of Nigeria Hockey Masters, Walter Imoedemhe, mourned the passing of the former president.
“Under his leadership, l participated in several national hockey tournaments including the Bukar Ibrahim Hockey National Championship and also the African Games in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. I became an FIH technical officer and NHF board member with him as NHF President.
“He empowered hockey athletes irrespective of their state of origin. He paralleled the development of hockey athletes as programmed athletes in the ratings of Old Bendel State and Lagos State. The core of the hockey players from northern Nigeria today are products of his benevolence to sports.”