In their quest to manufacture balls of international standards for football sport, the Bauchi State Football Makers, based at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Wunti Gate, find themselves facing a challenge of the lack of support from the government, but remain committed to manufacturing great Nigeria-made balls, Completesports.com reports.
The Chairman of Bauchi State Football Makers Malcolm Umar Mu’azu Wunti, told Completesports.com during an exclusive interview in Bauchi that the association is aspiring to step up from the current situation whereby politicians only patronize them during election periods, purchasing the affordable balls in large quantities as gifts for local football clubs.
“Our independence is halted only during election seasons when politicians approach us with contracts for mass production. Handcrafting these footballs is time-consuming, but I firmly believe that with the government’s commitment to promoting made-in-Nigeria products, our group has the potential to manufacture balls for football that can be utilized not only within the country but also on an international scale.” Mallam Umar Mu’azu Wunti told Completesports.com.
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Mallam Imrana Idris, a member of the association, corroborated the Chairman while speaking to Completesports.com
“The high cost of materials has been a challenge for us the Bauchi State Football Makers, but we are committed to producing high-quality balls that will meet international standards,” Idris stated.
“Our ability to manufacture balls in various sizes for different sports sets us apart. Despite the financial burden, we remain determined to contribute to the growth of Nigerian football. We have seen grassroots support from local communities, where amateur players value the affordability of our products as compared to imported alternatives.”
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The Bauchi State Football Makers appealed to the government to provide them with sustainable support as they strive to produce world-class football balls and other sports balls.
However, the labour-intensive process of handcrafting football presents a significant challenge. Nevertheless, the group remains dedicated and firmly believes that with the government’s commitment to promoting Nigerian-made products, they can overcome the challenges.
The high cost of production materials notwithstanding, the Bauchi State Football Makers are unwavering in their determination to make their valuable contribution to Nigerian football by delivering high-quality balls suitable for various competitions.
By Awwal Shuaibu, Naraguta
