By Umahi Jeremiah
Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has promised to settle the surgery bills of injured Kano Pillars U19 goalkeeper, Muhammad Umar, popularly known as Mallam Gola.
Waiya made the commitment during a visit to the goalkeeper’s family home in Jakara, Aikawa, Kano, on Saturday, November 7.
Umar has been out of action for six months after suffering a serious leg fracture during a Kano Pillars U-19 pre-season friendly at the club’s training ground.
The injury has kept the young goalkeeper away from football as he awaits surgery at an orthopaedic hospital.
During the visit, the commissioner assured Umar and his family that the Kano State Government would cover the full cost of the operation, adding that payment would be made next week to enable the procedure to go ahead without further delay.
Waiya also provided cash assistance to the player and his family to support their immediate needs during his recovery.
The commissioner’s intervention is expected to ease the financial burden on the family and help Umar begin the process of returning to full fitness.
The pledge comes as a boost to the young goalkeeper, whose football career has been put on hold since sustaining the injury.
Describing the team as more than champions, Akpabio said the players had written their names in history through their remarkable accomplishment.
He congratulated the players, coaches, technical crew and everyone involved in the historic success, declaring that Nigeria’s victory had been heard across the world.
