By ANDRE BISYIT
The newly appointed Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Prince Miaphen, has pledged to consolidate the achievements of his predecessor, particularly in grassroots sports development and talent discovery.
Miaphen made the commitment in an interview with THE NIGERIA STANDARD during the final of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) pre-season tournament at the New Zaria Road Stadium, Jos, recently.
He said the present administration had prioritised sports development and put necessary measures in place to enable the sector thrive in the state.
“I’ll consolidate on what my predecessor has started. As you all know, since this administration came on board, there have been a lot of positive changes not only in the sports sector but the entire state,” he said.
Miaphen pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessor to strengthen grassroots sports development and discover talents who could represent Plateau State and Nigeria in the future.
He advocated greater youth participation in sporting activities irrespective of tribe or religion and promised to encourage younger people to develop interest in sports.
“I’ll ensure people are mobilised to the stadium to watch matches and cheer our teams; when the league resumes, you’ll see the difference,” he said.
The commissioner thanked Governor Mutfwang for giving him the opportunity to serve in his administration and pledged not to disappoint the Governor or the people of the state.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Plateau United Football Club of Jos, Dr Alhasan Yakmut, said the club’s target for the 2026/2027 season was to win the league and qualify for the CAF Champions League.
Yakmut disclosed that the pre-season tournament served as a litmus test for the team ahead of the new season.
“The reason for hosting this tournament is to test the quality and abilities of our recruited players, which turned out to be very eventful,” he said.
He added that the club would analyse the players’ performances within a week to determine areas requiring reinforcement before the new season.
Yakmut also said the issue surrounding the club’s change of logo had been resolved, adding that the club’s jerseys would soon be available for purchase in five categories based on the purchasing power of supporters.
He called for greater education of Plateau United supporters on FIFA guidelines and restrictions on authorised areas within football grounds.
“Our fans require serious education in the areas of FIFA guidelines and restrictions in unauthorised areas; they must understand that ownership does not include irresponsible actions and thuggery within and outside the stadium,” Yakmut said.
The six-team pre-season tournament featured Rivers United, Plateau United, Rangers International, El-Kanemi Warriors, Mighty Jets and Katsina United.
Rangers International emerged champions after defeating Plateau United 1-0 in the final.