Tag: El-Kanemi

• Maiduguri team sure of victory in Lafia

EL  Kanemi Warriors say they will show Glo Premier League leaders, Kano Pillars, the exit at the end of today’s Federation Cup Round of 32 encounter in Lafia, Nassarawa.

The Maiduguri side were the last club to get the better of Pillars this season in a 2-0 victory over the Pyramid side in a Week 20 tie on July 3rd. It was the return leg of the Week 19 league clash played in Kano which Pillars won by the same scoreline on June 16th.

With today’s tie an away one for both teams, El Kanemi chairman Zanna Mala says the club will do enough to dump Pillars out of the oldest club competition in Nigeria.

“We are not arrogant with our claims that we shall beat Pillars on Wednesday in Lafia.

“We know it won’t be easy but we have already defeated them and they also beat us, but in Lafia it is only one club that will qualify for the Round of 16. El Kanemi will show Pillars that they are equally matched.

“We have won this competition twice (in 1991 and 1992) and we are ready again to add to the two. We have the advantage and we shall explore it,” Mala assured.

Incidentally, it was Pillars that El Kanemi defeated 3-2 in the final of the 1991edition to cart away their first Challenge Cup (as the tournament was known them). They successfully defended the title the following year by beating Stationery Stores of Lagos 1-0.

For Kano Pillars, they won the competition in 1953 by beating Lagos Dynamos 2-1 in the final. The Baba Ganaru-tutored team got to the semi final last year before losing on penalties to Lobi Stars in Calabar.

El Kanemi chairman Zanna Mala is convinced his boys will eliminate league defending champions, Kano Pillars from the 2013 Federation Cup Round of 32 in a month’s time.

Pillars beat El Kanemi 2-0 in a Week 19 league tie played on June 16, while El Kanemi, coached by Zachary Baraje, returned the favour on July 3 at the El Kanemi International Stadium, Maiduguri during a Week 20 clash.

With both teams booked to meet again at the Lafia Stadium in Nasarawa, Zanna said his players had been looking forward to another thrilling contest in the hope that they would shock Pillars again, like they did two weeks ago.

“We are ready for Pillars. The players and the technical crew are ready.

“They have trained very hard for this game and I fancy our chances against Pillars in Lafia on Wednesday.

“We are not intimidated at all by the credentials of our opponents. We shall come out to play our game and assert our superiority just like we did during the league game.

“We are leaving for Lafia on Monday for the match and insha Allah, we shall conquer,” Zanna said.

El Kanemi got to the group stage of the 2012 Federation Cup before they were eliminated at the Lagos centre, while Pillars were defeated in the semi final by Lobi Stars on penalties last year under what Pillars called ‘very cloudy circumstances.’

The management of El-Kanemi Warriors has heaped praises on players for the team’s outstanding performances during the first stanza of the Globacom Premier League.

The Maiduguri-based side began the 2012/2013 campaign on a trembling start, securing only 9 points in nine matches. But coach Zachary Baraje led side turned the table round when the club management strengthened the squad with additional players after the week nine transfer window.

El Kanemi ended the first round on 25 points.

The club’s Team Manager, Baba Ali Ajayi told SportingLife that the team has been impressive since the arrival of new players, stressing that the team will build on their performances when the league resumes on July 3rd.

“I have to commend our players and the technical crew for the job well done. We started the season very badly, getting just 9 points from week one to week nine. But we thanked God that we’ve been able to change the situation. We tried to bring in experience players during week 9 transfer window and their inclusion helped the team. The club has recovered and we ended the first round with 25 points which is a little bit okay. “We were able to secure away draw against Lobi Stars and beating Rangers 3-0 at home too which is a big motivation to the team. I have to thank the players for their efforts,” Ajayi told SportingLife.

“We will continue to push until we achieve our target which is to maintain our league position at the end of the season. I have to commend the state government too for their support to the team. I also appreciate the Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Isa Adamu for his unrelenting efforts in ensuring that the team achieves something tangible this season. Our club chairman, Mala Zana, needs to be commended for his dedication to the club. He is a blessing to the team.”

Kano Pillars will slug it out in a Northern derby against El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in the Federation Cup Round of 32, SportingLife can reveal.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Director of Competition, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who disclosed this to SportingLife on Friday, said all the matches would be played on July 17.

Pillars wrapped up the first stanza of the Globacom Premier League with 2-0 win over El- Kanemi. The two sides will resume the hostility in the first game of the second stanza on July 3rd.

The July 17 Federation Cup tie will be the third time the two sides meet this season.

Pillars defeated Global Academy while El-Kanemi beat Apa United in the Round of 64 to advance to this stage.

According to Sanusi, Nembe City will lock horns with Sunshine Stars of Akure in another top flight clash.

Sanusi also told SportingLife that the venues for the matches would be announced later. He expressed satisfaction in the competition so far, stressing that no cases of indiscipline was recorded.

“The venues for the matches have not been fixed but the games would be played July 17. As expected, the Federation Cup witnessed surprises, smaller teams defeated big teams. We are also happy that no serious cases of indiscipline have been reported,” Sanusi told SportingLife.

Former chairman of El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club of Maiduguri, Alhaji Bashir Abiso has commended the Borno state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima for his unflinching support given to the club.

According to him, despite the security challenge facing the state, the state government has been contributing positively to restore the lost glory of the team in the football circle.

Alhaji Abiso who served as the team chairman from 1999-2003 said that with the state government commitment coupled with the players’ deteermination and zeal, El-Kanemi will soon restore its lost glory in the Nigerian Football.

He charged the El-Kanemi players to redouble their efforts in their subsequent matches in order to reciprocate the state government gesture by winning one of the trophy at the end of football season.

However, he expressed appreciation with the sportsmanship exhibited by the state fans during the match and urged football clubs fans across the country to emulate Kano Pillars Fans in terms of spectatorship as well as their sportsmanship.

El-Kanemi Warriors top scorer, Haruna Babalo, is set to exit the club for greener pastures in the south according to Supersport.com.

Babalo, who joined the Maiduguri side from hometown club, Gombe United, has scored against Bayelsa United, Akwa United, 3SC and Warri Wolves this term.

The player is said to be ready to discuss with Warri Wolves and Akwa United, where he played on loan during the first half of the 2011/12 season.

“I have to discuss my future with officials of El-Kanemi. It’s becoming obvious that I’ll play for another club,” Babalo told supersport.com.

The forward started the 2011/12 season at Akwa on loan, but returned to his original club, Gombe United, after injury to Mustapha Babadidi.

There are strong indications that El-Kanemi will not prevent the forward from leaving since their top scorer in the lower division, Ezekiel Thompson, has returned to the club from Enugu Rangers.