In 2014, David Abbey decided to ‘Give Back’ to the
community where serving as a Youth Copper in Gombe State. By gathering Al’Majaris
(Juvenile delinquents) who were some kind of nuisance in Bajoga; fermenting
troubles and vandalizing valuable properties all round the community.
With them, the youth Corper formed a football team,
which they named ‘Bajoga Warriors FC.’ Well, not that these youngsters were in
anyway talented footballers, but Abbey perceived their passion for football
when he saw them watch Nigeria national team on TV. He was ready to even teach
them the fundamentals of the game.
But then, the team needed kits as well as training
equipment and the copper couldn’t run to Local Government or NYSC to source
funds. Nobody in the community was really interested in his pet project. Not
one of them would want to associate with anything involving these ‘Hooligans.’
But Abbey conceived a plan that would later provide Sponsors as well as loyal
fans for the team.
On a particular weekend, all the players came out
with their Shovels and rakes, and then headed to the major road ravished by erosion
menace. The youngsters began to dig drainage by the side of the road and used
the sand dug out to fill the gullies and potholes. Few weeks later, when they
have finished work on the road, they headed to another one and did the same
work.
It immediately got the attention of the community
heads and elders. Some well to do men that drove their cars pas the graded road,
voluntarily donated money to the team.
But then, the club wasn’t done yet. They conceived another
plan when they saw that the first worked well. They went to all the old women and widows in
the community and helped them mend their leaking roof and cracked walls. The
impact of their community development services was so positive that a philanthropist,
Mallam Sidi, decided to single handedly sponsor the team.
Bajoga Warriors became talk of the town. Their good
works were noised abroad, which got them lots of loyal fans anytime they play a
match in community or away. Their story got to the State Governor, who invited
the team severally to play at the state capital Gombe. The boys began to enjoy
the exposure of what it is to be a real football star.
David Abbey just finished from Nigeria Youth Service
Corps this May 2015. He won several Awards from Baloga LG Chairman, the Gombe
State governor and NYSC; for transforming a whole community. Turning the dreaded
Al’Majaris from vices and channeling their energies into community development projects.
Prolong
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