Olaoluwa Aro

Chairman of Bauchi State Football Association, Patrick Pascal (MON) has been honored with an award of recognition for his immense contribution to the development of sports, especially grassroot football in Bauchi State and beyond.

This honor was bestowed on Pascal, who is equally the present team Coordinator of Nigeria’s apex national team by the Wife of Bauchi State Governor, Her Excellency, Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed at the final of YSFSON U-15 Soccer Tournament over the weekend.

The ex Shooting stars of Ibadan player, Patrick Pascal (MON) described the award of recognition as one of the motivating factors to do more in grassroots development, while praising Her Excellency, for her consistent support on Sports- Developmental programs within and outside Bauchi State

“As an ex international, I was part of the beneficiaries of Grassroot football development during my playing days. Since I became the FA chairman, I vowed not to underestimate the power of youth engagement through sports, especially football event as this is an avenue for us as Football Association to annex these talented players together.

“This award means a lot to me but as a leader, I have dedicated it to Bauchi State Football Association. It’s really historic for me to be honored by the Wife of Bauchi State Governor, Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed, I am grateful for recognizing our good work even though, this award would spur me to remain focused in my quest for talent discovery across Bauchi State ” Said Patrick Pascal.

“Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed has been a major support system for YSFSON programs, not just in Bauchi State but also outside; In fact, her desire in talent identification is peerless amongst women who are showing interest in same project.

“She is very connected to the youths at all levels and have patience to listen to their hue and cry on what they hanker for hence, with unflinching commitment to support programs that can help achieve the dream and vision of these talents” Pascal revealed.

Patrick Pascal (MON), has been changing the facet of football structures in Bauchi State since he assumed the position few years ago.

Meanwhile, Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed believed the restive youths of Bauchi State need to be properly engaged through sporting programs across the State and chronologically, Her Excellency has been described as a Fillip to sports men having sponsored different football events through YSFSON programs across the Northern states; The wife of Bauchi State Governor has persistently been giving total support for this cause and course respectively.

The Chairman of Bauchi State Football Association, Patrick Pascal, (MON) has commended the efforts of ‘ Kaura’s Unity Football Tournament ‘ sponsor, Alhaji Mohammad Duguri towards talent identification in the State’s circuit.

‘MON’ as Pascal is fondly called in the football industry and beyond, brought new templates for development of football into Bauchi State, since he assumed leadership position as FA Chairman, in 2019.

The Super Eagles Coordinator and his like-minded board members conceptualized the idea of Peace and Unity restoration into the ‘Pearl of Tourism’s’ state, through Grassroot Football programs.

Patrick Pascal,(MON) in his commendation and response to the heart-racing decision of Alhaji Mohammad Duguri’s Peace and Unity Football Tournament’s Sponsorship, he said;

“Alhaji Mohammad Duguri has being a passionate follower of football, thus, he accepted our proposal to help actualize the idea of Peace and Unity Football in Bauchi State.

“To some extent, we have known for quite a while. He is magnanimous and leaning on his magnanimity in terms of grassroot football competitions would benefit the restive youths of our beloved State. Because, for us, as the drivers of football system in the pearl of tourism state, our focus has always been on Grassroot Football programs, of which, we emphasized on before coming on board and we are following that path systematically since we stepped into the office. Of course, it is known fact that, event like Kaura’s Unity Football Tournament will be an avenue for us to discover talents across the State” he explained

Meanwhile, Bauchi State Football Association is putting every necessary measure, mechanism in place for the event to be properly organized without hiccups.

Although, Kaura’s Unity Football Tournament ‘tentatively’ takes center stage in September, 2022 and all the talented footballers (yet to be discovered) in the Pearl of Tourism state which consists of 20 Local Government Areas would take part in the Grassroot Football Program.

Chairman of Bauchi State Football Association Patrick Pascal has organized a football competition across 20 local Government areas of Bauchi State in honor of professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro for his outstanding service to humanity in the Education sector in the county.

The maiden cup competition which is named PROFESSOR SULEIMAN ELIAS BOGORO UNITY CUP 2021 has kicked off in Katagum zone with 80 teams gunning for glory, the North Central zone is however expected to also follow suit.

Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro is the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) a position he has held for two tenure after being reinstated in 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 after a successful first tenure, a position he assumed in 2016.

Since he assumed position as the Executive Secretary of TETfund, Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro has engaged in a whole lot of innovation across all Universities in Nigeria including the construction of sporting facilities.

From January 1,2019 till 2020, 4,798 scholars have been sponsored from the Universities, Polytechnic and Colleges of Education across the Nation for Masters and PhD programmed globally by TETfund under the watchful eye of Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, this but not the least are many of what he has done.

The Bauchi state Government has deemed it fit to honor him for his wonderful works and the Bauchi state football Association Chairman Patrick Pascal has seen the need for the recognition which has steered him up to organize the PROFESSOR SULEIMAN ELIAS BOGORO UNITY CUP 2021 in Bauchi State to celebrate and thank him for using his position to touch lives, mostly the Youth who have been the most beneficiaries.

The Honourable Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development Bauchi State Alhaji Adamu Manu Soro has commended the organizers of Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic for finding the State worthy of hosting as the centre for North East Zone.

Alhaji Adamu made this disclosure at the opening ceremony of the 5-days clinic at the Games Village Centre in Bauchi State.

Soro noted that the programme will serve as a big opportunity for the atate in its efforts in building the capacity of the youth and also develop the game of football.

“I want to give assurance of my Governor that he is committed to see our youth are doing something right and we appreciate you for bringing this programme to our State.”

In his remarks Mallam Murtala Sambo, the Coordinator of Nationwide League One (NLO) in the North East
appreciated the Government of Bauchi State for motivating in their efforts in developing the game of football from the grassroots.”

While commending the Bauchi State FA Chairman, MON Patrick Pascal for his efforts, the coordinator stressed the need for club to have able hands in the helms of affairs as one of the inspiration of the partnership between the clinic organizers and the NLO.

While noting that the project has the potential to deliver the ‘shared dream’, he revealed that NLO has been receiving testimonies from participants in other locations where the programme has held.

“I implore whoever is participating in this clinic to show total commitment because without that you can’t get what you want.

With the train of the programme now in Bauchi State for the North East State, Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic has now covered all the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.

Other guests at the opening ceremony are Coach Mathew Olorunleke, a Nigerian-Italian who is one of the resource persons, Gian Marco, an Italian certified goalkeeper trainer, Owolabi Aleshinloye Head of Media Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic and a host of others.

Pascal who played for Nigeria between 1995 to 2000 said experience he’s garnered at a player and football administrator has helped to relate well with every players invited for national team assignments.

“Because I’ve played the game and because I’m an administrator, football is what I do so it makes it easy to manage and coordinate the players well while in camp”

“I relate well with them and with the coaches, everybody knows what is expected of him and again in National team, nobody have time to discuss how much one person have or what he’s done. Everybody have one thing in mind which is to come and play football and make the country proud.

“I respect them and they do accord me with respect too, ask anyone of them they will tell you how I relate with them.

“I don’t only coordinate them but talk to them how to plan for life after football with my experience,” he said.

Pascal who played for Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and Shooting Stars explained that football has earned him what he desired in life.

“I’m happy with what football has given me, from being a national team player to being an administrator, a politician and also coordinating the national team.

“One thing I’m also proud of in playing football was I didn’t finish my career because of injury, I’m still fit and can walk very well unlike some of my colleagues, I thank God and happy about that,” Said Patrick Pascal who is currently Chairman of Bauchi State Football Association.

Pascal who is the chairman of Bauchi State Football Association said ex players must get involved in football administration in their various states if they want to make serious impact in the round leather game.

He said policies making will be easy if they are in charge of their Football administration of their states.

The former Shooting Stars’ player said, “I am not excited that most ex internationals are not coming out to make meaningful contributions to the game they love so much but the truth of the matter is that they can have a say if they are in control.

“My advice to former players who represented the country at various stages is that they need to return back home and organize various community football tournaments in order to be recognized by their immediate environment.

One of the ways other ex internationals can make their voices heard is to also be in charge of the Football Associations (FA), then they will not be sidelined”.

He said other former players have the capacity to identify exceptional talents but must have either coaching certificates or agents licenses.

“Everyone cannot go into sports administration but others have their eyes on coaching or scouting. They must ensure that they get coaching certificates from CAF which is our African body or FIFA coaching courses. Others can decide to go for scouting programs so that they can help identify hidden talents from the grassroots and outside the country