The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano Pillars

  • Pillars hire 3 Italian coaches

    Pillars hire 3 Italian coaches

    Nigeria champions Kano Pillars are set to appoint three top Italian coaches ahead of next year’s CAF Champions League, officials have announced.

    The Kano State deputy governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje announced this on Friday at a sponsorship partnership involving Pillars that the Nigeria champions have finalised an agreement for the Italian coaches to join the team soon.

    Ganduje said the coach, goalkeeper trainer and physiotherapist will team up with Pillars as part of an agreement signed between Pillars and GSports Consultants in Dubai, who have agreed to produce kits worth one million dollars for the club.

    He added that all their expenses in respect of salaries would be paid by the sponsors, which in this case is Gsports Consultants.

    The coaches will work closely with a highly-rated Nigerian coach whose credentials are very intimidating and which will soon be announced by the board of the club.

    The club are expected to disclose more details about this arrangement next week.

  • Pillars hire three Italian coaches

    Pillars hire three Italian coaches

    Nigeria champions Kano Pillars is set to appoint three top Italian coaches ahead of next year’s CAF Champions League.

    The Kano State deputy governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, announced this Friday at a sponsorship partnership involving Pillars.

    Ganduje said the Nigeria champions had finalised an agreement for the Italian coaches to join the team soon.

    He said the coach, goalkeeper trainer and physiotherapist will team up with Pillars as part of an agreement signed between Pillars and GSports Consultants in Dubai, who had agreed to produce kits worth one million dollars for the club.

    He added that all the coaches’ expenses in respect of salaries would be paid by the sponsors, which in this case is Gsports Consultants.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the coaches will work closely with a highly-rated Nigerian coach whose credentials are very intimidating.

    The Nigerian coach will soon be announced by the board of the club.

     

     

     

  • CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW: Pillars not worried by AS Vita’s track record — Malikawa

    CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW: Pillars not worried by AS Vita’s track record — Malikawa

    Kano Pillars insist they are not disturbed by the antecedents of their CAF Champions League preliminary round foes, AS Vita of DR Congo ahead of their first leg encounter in Kinshasha in February.

    Pillars were eliminated in the same competition in the second round last season after scooping their first Nigerian league title in four seasons at the expense of Enugu Rangers.

    The Sai Masu Gida successfully defended the league crown again this season and, having been polled against DR Congo opponents, Pillars’ Media Officer, Idris Malikawa told SportingLife that they would be approaching the game like they did against Al Ahly of Egypt in 2009.

    He said that Pillars would not be intimidated by the Kinshasha-based club’s pedigree in the lucrative competition but that they would exploit all possibilities available to stop AS Vita in both games in February.

    “We know we are going to play AS Vita. We know they are a tough side but that won’t affect us at all. People said more when we were about to face Al Ahly of Egypt in 2009. We were written off but we thank Allah that we were vindicated.

    “We are going to have a good team and also secure a new coach soon so that we will be ready for the competition and others we shall be participating in next season,” Malikawa told SportingLife.

    AC Leopards of Congo eliminated Pillars in the second round of the Champions League last season despite the team holding a 4-1 first leg advantage in Kano.

  • Ali turns down new Kano Pillars deal

    Ali turns down new Kano Pillars deal

    Kano Pillars striker Nasiru Ali has turned down a new contract that will pay him a signing-on fee of four million Naira.

    A top official disclosed: “Nasiru is the only player from last season who is yet to sign a new contract with the club.

    “We will not force anyone to play for us and so we have told him to go and think about his final decision.”

    Officials insisted they are unaware of his future plans.

    Pillars have retained 23 players from the past season, while placing 12 others on transfer.

    Borno-born Ali joined Pillars from Kwara United three seasons ago.

    He has been involved in Pillars back-to-back championship-winning run and he is widely seen as a protégé of coach Mohammed Babaganaru,who has since departed for Nasarawa United.

  • Pillars agree personal terms with Najere

    Pillars agree personal terms with Najere

    •Want to sort out deal with player’s club, Warri Wolves

    Kano Pillars have agreed personal terms with Musa Najere who played for Warri Wolves last season in the Globacom Premier League and would complete a deal immediately they thrash out transfer details from the Seasiders in the coming days.

    Pillars won the Nigeria Premier League last season and have been booked to represent the country in the CAF Champions League, a competition they exited before the group stages last season after they lost to a Congolese side under cloudy circumstances.

    Pillars’ top official confirmed to SportingLife that the Sai Masu Gida have stepped up their bid to re-sign one of their products from the jaw of Warri Wolves.

    The source said that the player has finalised his deal with Kano pillars but that they were yet to contact Warri Wolves on the issue of his clearance.

    The source told SportingLife:”We are going to break lots of grounds this season. We have earmarked our transfer targets and Musa Najere as you have pointed is one of them. He has been training with us and we have already agreed personal terms with him but we are yet to reach Warri Wolves to make the deal complete.

    “We tried at once to reach them but we were told the General Manager was not around. We will go back to get the deal sealed.”

  • Ganaru signs a year’s deal with Nasarawa

    Ganaru signs a year’s deal with Nasarawa

    Former Kano Pillars coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru has finally signed a year’s contract with Nasarawa United.

    This has thus put to rest the reported return of the coach to Kano following pressure from the Nigeria league champions.

    “As I talk to you, Baba Ganaru has just signed an official contract with us,” confirmed Nasarawa United chairman Isaac Danladi to MTNFootball.com.

    “Ganaru has signed a one-year contract that would see him take charge for the 2013/2014 season. We have agreed on terms, but it would be out of place to divulge his earnings from the contract. However, within the week, we shall make public the club’s expectation from the coach ahead of the forth coming season.”

    Ganaru sensationally quit Pillars, saying he was pushed out by some top officials who did not appreciate his efforts. He spent five seasons at the club during which time they won the league crown thrice with him being in charge for their last two triumphs.

  • Pillars step down plans for top coach

    Pillars step down plans for top coach

    Nigerian champions Kano Pillars have stepped down plans to hire a top coach ahead of next year’s CAF Champions League.

    Pillars chairman Abba Yola had hinted they would strengthen the coaching crew with the appointment of an expatriate coach or former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia.

    In a statement after the Pillars’ board meeting in Kano, it was disclosed that all plans for the club’s quest for the 2014 CAF Champions League have been put on hold and coach Mohammed Ganaru, assisted by Abdu Maikaba, will continue to handle the team.

    Pillars are also expected to finalise the signing of new players for the new season by November 25.

    The team are now due to return to training on November 18 after several postponements on account of the fact that no dates have been fixed for the pre-season Super 4 Tournament.

     

  • Amidst exist rumour: Bosso resumes at Bayelsa United

    Amidst exist rumour: Bosso resumes at Bayelsa United

    By Taofeek Babalola

     

    Bayelsa United Technical Adviser, Ladan Bosso has returned to work with Restoration Boys in preparation for the 2013/2014 season.

    The former Kano Pillars coach arrived in Yenagoa on Sunday from Minna after a three-week break.

    Bosso has been linked with various clubs after the end of the season but his arrival has brought an end to his exit rumour.

    It was gathered that Sunshine Stars of Akure and Enyimba of Aba are looking for his signature.

    The club’s media officer, George Ameli told SportingLife that the Minna-born coach was in a relaxed mood when he re-join the team.

    “Coach Bosso came back to Yenagoa on Sunday after the break. We are aware that he is wanted by some clubs but I want to tell those clubs to look elsewhere,” Ameli said.

    “Coach Bosso has the mandate to take the club `to the continent which he has successfully done and it is only logical to continue where he stopped from last season. If not for what happened in Gombe during the last match of the season, Bayelsa United would have won the league.”

    Bayelsa United finished the 2012/2013 season on third position with 61 points and qualified to play in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Ameli added that the club will do everything within its reach to compete well both in the league and the CAF Confederations Cup.

    “We will prepare well for the season and we will ensure that we make the country proud.”

  • Kano Pillars coach for Dutch training

    Kano Pillars coach for Dutch training

    Coach of Kano Pillars Baba Ganaru is scheduled for a two-week understudy at either VVV Venlo or Roda in the Dutch league.

    Ganaru is expected to be accompanied by one of his assistants.

    The move, according to the special adviser to the Kano State governor on sports, Shuaib Gara Gombe is part of an agreement entered by the state government with Elite Sports Consulting, USA and Maasita Sports of Holland.

    Gombe, a former Gombe State Football Association chairman, told MTNFootball.com:”We want to ensure that the coaches are properly equipped for the 2014 CAF Champions League.

    “The coaches need all the exposure they can get and the Kano State government is committed to making our participating in this Champions League a huge success.

    “We are planning that the coaches would go for the training immediately after the Super Four. So, we are actually waiting for the LMC to fix a date for the Super 4 so we could tailor our plans for the team accordingly.”

    He also disclosed that part of the agreement with the consulting firm was to have a foreign technical adviser join the bench of Kano Pillars.

    “As part of our partnership with Elite Sports Consulting, they would provide us with a world-class technical adviser, who would come to access the readiness of Pillars to conquer the continent,” he said.

    “He would be on the bench for at least two competitive pre-season games after which he would advise on the readiness of the club for the continent.”

  • Pillars will be champions again—Baleria

    Pillars will be champions again—Baleria

    Kano Pillars coach, Kabiru Baleria, has attributed the team’s success to the good administrative policy under club’s chairman Abba Yola.

    The Pyramid City side won 2012/2013 league title within seven months that Yola took over the realm of the club. Abba Yola was appointed in April.

    The ex-international also heaped praises on the players and technical crew led by coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru for the team’s achievement.

    “Winning the league title this season was so tough and challenging but despite all odds God gave the trophy to us in appreciation of our efforts. It was a photo finish competition.

    We kept our fate in God till the end of the season and he answered,” Baleria said.

    “I want to commend our club’s administrator under the leadership of Alhaji Abba Yola for his visionary manner he has been driving the club to international standard. He has brought a fresh air into the team since he took over the club.

    “We have to also understand the giant role played by the state government under Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankaso who provided an enabling environment for us to operate with his moral and financial assistant to the team throughout the season. The players and the technical crew led by Mohammed Baba Ganaru also played an important role in achieving this feat. Ganaru has registered his name in the history book of Nigeria football by leading the club to a back-to-back league title. We thanked our fans too for their unrelenting support to the team.”

    The former El kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri star added that the club will prepare well for the coming season to surpass the pass record. He believes the team can repeat the feat again with determination and dedication.

    “We are all aware of what is expected of us from our fans. I know every club will be eying Pillars achievement but I want to assure everyone that we will not relent on our oars. We will work very hard for next season towards ensuring we emerge the league champions again as well as surprise the world by clinching CAF Champions League title. It is very easy with God, dedication and hard work.”