A football academy expert, Usman Ya’u, on Sunday, began scouting for footballers with special talents in Bauchi state.

Speaking during the 2025 Usman Ya’u Unity Cup organized for all the tertiary institutions in Bauchi metropolis, Ya’u explained that the essence of the competition was to identify football talents and project them in a global world

According to him, the competition was also to unite all the students across Bauchi state as a whole.

“Some of the issues we are facing in Nigeria currently is the lack of unity, patriotism and understanding of each other.

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“So, I took it upon myself to see what are some of the things I will be able to contribute to my state.

“We have done so many things from the grassroot and then we decided how do we come to tertiary institutions because these are people that are going to be the leaders of tomorrow, professionals and people that are going to lead us in many aspects of our lives.

“We decided that football is one of the things that unite us all and that’s what sport does.

“As you can see from the crowd, you will see all the calibre of people from males, females, the young and the old. Everybody is here regardless of culture, religion, age or where you are coming from,” he said.

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The football expert said that the competition would be able to unite the students of tertiary institutions and bring them together irrespective of where they come from.

He explained that 10 institutions in Bauchi metropolis were participating after which players with special talents would be discovered.

“I have a football academy in my local government, Darazo and we are hoping to go to Europe next year, so, this is an opportunity for scouts across Bauchi to come and see the kind of grassroot talents that we have,” said Ya’u.

Similarly, Mohammed Nasir, Secretary, Local Organising committee of the competition, said that the essence of the tournament is to bring unity among the students of Bauchi state tertiary institutions and to also identify talents to develop sports from the grassroot.

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Also speaking, Usman Abubakar, a lecturer from the School of Nursing, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH), said it was high time such competition is organized.

“This is because as medical personnel, we know the importance of exercise and unity.

“Organising such a competition will bring unity among the youth and we thank the organisers for organising such a competition,” he said.

Nuhu Abubakar, Students Affairs Coordinator, College of Agriculture, Bauchi, believed that the competition would improve sportsmanship, adding that it was an avenue for the students to familiarise with each other.

He called on the players to obey the rules and regulations of the competition, saying it was not a donor die affairs.