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Tag: Kano Pillars

  • After Pillars, Dolphins chase Cup final

    After Pillars, Dolphins chase Cup final

    After Sunday’s 1-0 win over Kano Pillars in the League, Dolphins will now look ahead to Thursday’s Federation Cup semifinal game against Prime in Abuja.

    Dolphins have been in the Federation Cup semifinals six times and have only lost once, in 1993 against Plateau United. That game ended 4-1.

    Since then, Dolphins have played in the semifinals in 2001, beating Enyimba 2-0, 2004, Dolphins beat Julius Berger 3-0 in Kaduna, 2006, Dolphins beat Niger Tornadoes 1-0 and in 2007 Dolphins beat Sharks 4-2 on penalties after full time ended 2-2.

    All four  times  that Dolphin won in the semifinals, theywon the Cup

    Coach, Stanley Eguma insists Prime will not stop the ambitions of his side.

    “We are working hard for victory and we do not see Prime stopping our road to the final,” Eguma said.

    Meanwhile, on Sunday, a 23rd minute strike from Emem Eduok ensured Dolphins ended the eleven game unbeaten run of champions, Kano Pillars.

    The goal, Eduok’s 8th of the League and 15 in all competitions this season moved Dolphins up to 7th on the GLO  NPFL table.

    After the game, Stanley Eguma said he was proud of his players for the win, despite their not too impressive play.

    “We played well, we scored a good goal and we won the game. The players did well and we are happy with the win,” Eguma said.

    Kano Pillars also had their moments and could have scored with Rabiu Ali, Gambo Mohammed and former Dolphins boy, Azeez Shobowale putting the home side on the back seat a couple of times.

    However, Dolphins held back and despite the massive support from the away fans (who outnumbered Dolphins fans 3-1), the home side held on to claim a massive win.

    As is usual when his side losses a game, head coach of Kano Pillars, Okey Emordi declines to talk to the press.

  • Transfer: LMC places embargo on 17 clubs

    Transfer: LMC places embargo on 17 clubs

    The League Management Company (LMC) has slapped clubs that are yet to fulfill their financial obligations to players with transfer embargoes, amongst other heavy sanctions, kickOffNigeria.com reports.

    The LMC revealed that only three of the 20 clubs in the topflight have been able to establish that they have met their obligation to players at the end of the first stanza of the season.

    The three clubs are – Kano Pillars, Abia Warriors and Bayelsa United. While 17 other clubs have not responded to a July 18 deadline to establish proof of compliance.

    A statement from the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar, said the three clubs have as a result been the only Glo Premier League clubs that can buy players or secure players on loan in the on-going mid-season transfer window.

    The LMC had pursuant to Sections 8.1.1 and 9.46 of the 2013/14 Rules and Frameworks, which deals with clubs’ Finance and Players Remuneration respectively, through a letter dated July 10 directed all clubs to provide evidence of compliance to payment of players’ wages.

    The letter requested the clubs to furnish the LMC with such evidence that may include electronic or hard copy of clubs’ payroll, evidence of payment including bank transfers or signed vouchers and any other proof the club may make available.

     

  • Kano Pillars play Bayelsa Utd Wednesday

    Kano Pillars play Bayelsa Utd Wednesday

    Kano Pillars will face Bayelsa United in a rescheduled Glo Premier League game on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars stadium on Wednesday.

    The match was postponed by the League Management Company (LMC) due to the Bayelsa United involvement in the continental assignment.

    All Week 19 league games involving Kano Pillars vs Dolphins and El-Kanemi Warriors versus Rangers matches over the weekend were postponed to next Saturday due to the death of Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero last Friday.

    The Pyramid City side resumed training yesterday after two days mourning.

    SportingLife reports that Bayelsa United will travel to Kano today ahead of Wednesday’s clash.

    Baylesa United will also host Giwa FC in Benin on Sunday in another outstanding league game.

  • Pillars boss praises Gov Kwankwaso

    Pillars boss praises Gov Kwankwaso

    Nigeria Premier League side Kano Pillars have received a new 64-seater bus donated by the Kano state government.

    In a chat with Goal, club chairman Ibrahim Haruna lauded governor Rabiu Kwankwaso for fulfilling his promise to reward the team after back-to-back victories in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

    “I’ve received the bus on behalf of the team. It’s Marco-Polo–Tarzan-like-bus. Anywhere the team travel it means they are there for serious business,” he told Goal.

    “We extend our appreciation to the governor as he has always stood by his words. We hope to be able to translate that gesture to many goals and trophies in course of the season.

    ”Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Sports, Gara Gombe said the gesture by the governor was to appreciate their double title feat and as well motivate the team succeed in various upcoming competitions.

    “The gesture is to encourage them and appreciate the efforts they are making to bring more laurels. We expect the team to make good use of the bus to actualise the desire of the state government to attain greater heights.”

    Meanwhile the team have received a match bonus increase from N40,000 to N50,000 for away wins with an home win increasing from N20,000 to N25, 000.

    Kano Pillars will host El-Kanemi Warriors in week 16 Nigeria Premier League match at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna today.

  • Kano Pillars will retain title, says Haruna

    Kano Pillars will retain title, says Haruna

    The chairman of Kano Pillars, Ibrahim Haruna has maintained that the club still has all it takes to defend the Nigeria Premier League title for a third time despite the sloppy start to their current campaign.

    Sai Masugida picked their third away point at Crown FC last Wednesday but have been held twice at the Kano Pillars Stadium in their current campaign.

    Haruna told Goal that the club is working hard to overcome its various challenges as defending champions. He also appealed to supporters of the team to keep faith.

    “They should wait and see, they should not be in a hurry – be patient with us. It is too early for anyone to panic. We have so many matches to play and very soon, we shall start winning again and also see how we’ll defend the title this season,” Haruna told Goal.

    Ibrahim, who took over the reins at Pillars from Abba Yola back in February following the club’s early exit from the 2014 CAF Champions League, said he is fit for the job and promised to achieve the desired success.

    He further said that his aspiration is not only in inspiring the team to retaining the coveted crown, but to ensure sustainability at the club.

    “My vision is sustainable growth – gradual and sustainable growth – it’s not all about winning all the time, though it is good to win but whenever you are growing, that growth should be sustainable, supported by a big root.

    “There are many other things in a football club than winning titles – though we will do our best to retain the title.You see so many examples from international clubs.

    “If you look at the ups and downs of some clubs in Europe,you see that is why football is very interesting and that is why it attracts the large crowd,” he noted.

    He also extolled the performance of his players against Crown following the 1-1 draw recorded in Ibadan.

    “Football is a funny game. It’s not always the best players that have the best score line. I’ve been monitoring and my boys played very well, they had a classical game and did their best and played a draw.

    “Maybe if we have removed the home factor, the result might have been much better,” he concluded.

    Kano Pillars currently have 11 points from 10 matches despite having a game in hand and eight points adrift of NPL leaders Sharks.

  • Kano Pillars organise enlightenment campaign for fans

    Kano Pillars organise enlightenment campaign for fans

    Kano Pillars football fans club at the weekend organised a one -day enlightenment campaign for its teeming supporters at the Kano Tourist camp, Bampai road, Kano.

    According to the chairman of the fans club, Bashir Idris Mu’azu, the enlightment is to enable fans to know their role before, during and after every match.

    The seminar was well attended by important sports personalities, and papers on the role of supporters during league matches were presented by the Director of Sports Bayero University Kano, Prof. Garba Musa A.A.

    The DPO of Sabo Gari, SP Shuaibu Bello presented a paper on the relationship between security and the fans, and the final paper was presented by Ibrahim Umar Fagge, Chairman, Kano State Referee Council on the relationship between referees and the fans.

    After the presentation of the papers, the club lunched the fourth edition of its annual calendar.

    Those present during the launch were the Special Adviser on Sports to the Governor of Kano State Ahmad Shuaibu Gara, General Manager Kano Pillars Babangida Lille, former chairman Abba Yola, former GM Abba Galadima, former chairman Tukur Babangida, the techincial crew and players of the club.

    Others are representative of Dan Adalan Kano, Hakimin Tofa, Alhaji Isyaku Umar Tofa, chairman of El-Kanemi Warriors FC Zanna Kakaje.

    Speaking at the end of the launch, Mu’azu said they realised over N100,000.

    “I want to use this medium to thank the state governor, his deputy, the sports commissioner and those that launched the calendar for their support to us. On behalf of members of Kano Pillars football fans club I say thank you to everybody that donated generously to us may Allah bless them,” Bashir said.

  • Pillars to storm Enugu with hundreds of fans

    Pillars to storm Enugu with hundreds of fans

    Chairman, Kano Pillars’ fans’ club, Bashir Idris Muazu has told SportingLife that he and his executive members will mobilise hundreds of fans to Enugu for Saturday’s Glo league game against Rangers international.

    Muazu added that the team know the relevance of the club’s fans, thus their plan to rally their support for the team this weekend.

    “We are going to Enugu en-masse with our supporters. We thinking of taking about a hundred fans to Enugu. This is a big match and the presence of supporters will be an added advantage on Saturday. We really appreciate our fans and what they did on Saturday in the game against Sunshine on Sunday,” Muazu told SportingLife.

    A 94th minute goal from Gambo Mohammed saved Pillars from defeat against Sunshine Stars and earned them a point in the game.

    “It was a nervous game and we have to cheer our team till the final whistle. We didn’t lose hope because we know that the goal will come. Our supporters made a massive contribution on Sunday and that is why we want to take them to Enugu. We are going to Enugu with the hope of getting something from the game. It is going to be a tough match but we believe in our players.”

  • Pillars crash out of Champions League

    Nigeria champions Kano Pillars have crashed out of the CAF Champions League after they failed to overturn a 3-1 deficit they suffered at AS Vita of DR Congo.

    Pillars won Saturday’s return match 2-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, but lost out 4-3 on aggregate.

    Etekiama Agiti gave visiting AS Vita a first minute lead, before Pillars fought back to draw level in the 66th minute through a header by Kabiru Umar.

    Pillars then took the lead in the 70th minute courtesy of Abdul Haruna, but could not score another goal that would have at least taken the game to a penalty shootout.

    Last year, Pillars crashed out to AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville in the first round of the competition.

  • CAF Champions League: Kofarmata confident despite red card

    CAF Champions League: Kofarmata confident despite red card

    Kano Pillars striker, Bello Kofarmata has said his absence will not hurt the Nigerian champions in Saturday’s CAF Champions League return fixture against DR Congo’s AS Vita at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

    The former Heartland petite hitman saw red in his side’s 1-3 defeat to the Congolese side in Kinshasa on Sunday.

    Kofarmata said he is quite confident his teammates will turn the visitors back empty-handed with a resounding victory.

    “I feel unhappy that I won’t be part of the squad to confront AS Vita in Kano on Saturday due to the red card I picked in Kinshasa on Sunday but I’m certain my colleagues will win the game to advance to the next stage of the competition.

    “Of course, they’ll miss my service dearly same way I feel bad not bringing my own contribution at their period of great need but I’m sure they’ll cope perfectly without me.

    “Pillars will surely win the encounter by three unreplied goals, history of our past campaigns shows that Pillars have been scoring up to four goals at home.

    “AS Vita are a good side but not a match to Pillars, we’re supposed to pick an outright win or draw in Kinshasa if not the missed chances which have been corrected.

    “Nigerians should be rest assured that Pillars won’t disappoint but will deliver the goods safely on Saturday,” Kofarmata said to supersport.com.

    Kofarmata said the new coach, Okey Emordi is a big boost to the Pyramid City side’s title campaign in the competition.

    “The new coach, Okey Emordi is a big boost to the side, he always motivates as well as inspires us to higher height.

    “I’ve always known him to be a good coach right from the time we worked with him at the home-based Super Eagles,” said the Nigerian goal poacher.

    The winners over both legs on Saturday will progress to the Round of 32 of the annual elite club competition.

  • Yola reassure on Pillars progress

    Yola reassure on Pillars progress

    Chairman of Kano Pillars Football Club, Aba Yola has assured fans of the club and Nigerians that the 2012/2013 Glo Premier League champion will overturn the 3-1 deficit suffered away at AS vita club of DR.Congo.

    Yola posited that he is looking forward to the return leg, which will be played next weekend with Pillars needing to score at least two unreplied goals to qualify for the first round of the competition. Yola described the game as a good match for his team but rues the first leg defeat on profligacy on the part of his players even as he gave assurances that they will sail through.

    “It was quite a very good match, we lost some scoring chances yes in the first half, eventually they were able to lead us 3-1 which was quite a good result going by what we have seen there and the way the players played. I’m sure we can overcome the two goal deficit when they come to Kano insha Allah.”

    Yola also described the team’s treatment in Kinshasha as a good one as he hailed the locals in Congo DR.

    “They were really very friendly, honestly they’re quite good, they were even cheering and waving at us even after the match, there was no hostility at all.” Yola concluded.

    Meanwhile, Assistant technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation, James Peters has predicted a tough and dicey contest after the contrasting fortunes recorded by Nigerian clubs in the Preliminary stage of the CAF champions league.

    Peters reckon that the away goal recorded by Kano Pillars makes winning two goals to zero an obtainable results for champions league easier while stating that the Aba warlords have a tight fixture to negotiate away from home.

    “The hope for kano PIllars is there, but at home we must be very careful to make sure that we can win by 2-0 which is obtainable but for Enyimba playing 3-1 at home, it is very tight for the team,” Peters told Brila FM.