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Tag: Kano Pillars

  • Plateau United FC ready for 2017/2018 NPFL season

    Plateau United FC ready for 2017/2018 NPFL season

    Defending champions, Plateau United Football Club of Jos on Wednesday said they were fully prepared for the new 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL ) season which begins on Sunday.

    Albert Dakup, the club’s Media Officer, said in Jos that the management has put in place all necessities for a successful outing.

    He recalled that the club had shortly after the end of last season released 12 players whose service were no longer needed.

    “In their stead, the club has recruited 12 new players to strengthen the team for the new NPFL season, as well as its continental engagements.

    Read also: Ikoyi Club fetes ‘Elders’ for 2018

    “Experience was a key factor which was considered in the recruitment of new players, taking into cognisance the continental matches.

    “Based on that, some experienced players like Terna Suswam from Enyimba, Amos Gyang from Kano Pillars, Charles Henlong from Rangers of Enugu, Raphael Ayagwa of Lobi Stars, amongst others, were recruited,” Dakup said.

    The spokesman said also that Plateau United played two pre-season tournaments and some friendly matches as part of its preparations for the new season.

    “We played the NPFL invitational tournament and the Ahlan pre-season tournament.

    “The club began closed camping in Abuja on January 2 and played a friendly match with a Nationwide League One side, Water FC of Abuja.

    “Our first match of the season is away to Nasarawa United of Lafia on Sunday and we are confident that with our level of preparations, we will get a positive result,” he said.

    NAN

  • Pillars claim second Gold Cup trophy in three years

    Pillars claim second Gold Cup trophy in three years

    Kano Pillars beat Lobi Stars 1-0 in the final of the 5th edition of the Gold Cup Preseason Tournament to claim their second Gold Cup trophy in three years courtesy of a 33rd minute strike from Rabiu Ali.
    The interesting game produced some breathtaking moment for both teams avid fans in Ilorin. Kano Pillars created the first chance of the game after four minutes of play when Nyima Nwagua failed to connect Ifeanyi Nweke’s well delivered cross.
    Nwagua had another opportunity to score the first goal of the pulsating encounter after receiving a pass from Nzube Anaezemba but his shot went inches wide.
    The defending Champions were awarded a free kick in the 8th minute of the match when Salau Ibrahim was brought down in the final third by Chris Madaki but Moses Bunde poor delivery from the free kick was cleared by Chinedu Udoji.
    Evans Ogenyi’s men were denied an opportunity to net the opener in the 28th minute through Ibrahim Salau but Pillars goalkeeper David Obiazor pulled a brilliant save.
    Ibrahim Musa’s wards scored the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute when Rabiu Ali beat an offside trap before putting the ball past John Lawrence. The first 45 minutes ended with the Pillars claiming a deserved one goal lead.
    The Benue Army came out strong in the second half and created couple of goal scoring chances but Pillars were resolute with their defensive play.
    In their bid to get the equaliser, Lobi Stars made few changes. Eze Uchenna was introduced for Ibrahim Salau in the 53rd minute while David Tyavkase and Manir Ubale came in for Paul Onobi and Adeshina Thomas. The 75th minute of the exchange saw Lobi Stars weaving around Pillars defense with great passing skills, Duru sent in a lovely pass to Okpotu but Udoji intercepted it with a timely tackle.
    Pillars stood their ground and defended their lead as they claimed their second Gold Cup trophy in three years.
    However, FC Ebedei’s youngster Batholomew Daniel claimed the top scorer award with three goals, Rabiu Ali was voted the tourney most valuable player while John Lawrence of Lobi Stars was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
  • Pillars, Bulls book tickets to FIBA Africa club championship

    Pillars, Bulls book tickets to FIBA Africa club championship

    Kano Pillars and Gombe Bulls have qualified for the 2017 FIBA Africa Club Championship. They will represent the zone in Tunisia.
    At the end of the competition hosted by the Nigeria Basketball Federation in Lagos between the 11th and 18th of November, Kano Pillars Basketball club went unbeaten winning all their 5 games played against Gombe Bulls, Aspac of Benin Republic, Civil Defence of Abuja, Mark Mentors of Abuja and Customs of Ghana.
    Bulls only lost a game to their arch rival, Kano Pillars on matchday 4 and beating other clubs to lay claim to the second space and punch their tickets to the finals for the first time in their history.
    Gombe Bulls had to wait till overtime against ASPAC of Benin Republic on their final day of the competition before picking their ticket to the finals.
    Kator Gar powered his team to another historic win with 17points, 3 assists and 5 rebounds to hand Bulls their first ever continental ticket.
    Abdulwahab Yakubu with 36 minutes of action on the court scored 16points and 4 assists while Sylvanus Yakubu and Ibe Agu both weighed in with 9 points apiece.
    For Pillars, it was a stroll in the park against Customs whom they blew out in the final game of the competition played in a round robin format.
    Kano Pillars’ Abdul Yahaya emerged the most valuable player of the tournament and one of the tournament’s best five players.
    Pillars legend, Abubakar Usman who had a sterling outing during the competition was also named as member of the competition best 5 players alongside Customs’ captain, Baniba Dodzi.
    Mark Mentors’ Victor Ocheibi, Bulls’ Kator Gar completed the list

  • NBBF nominates Rivers Hoopers for FIBA Qualifiers

    NBBF nominates Rivers Hoopers for FIBA Qualifiers

    Rivers Hoopers have been nominated to participate at the 2017 FIBA Africa Champions Cup Zone 3 qualifiers starting November 11-18.

    This was contained in a letter signed by the secretary general of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Chimezie Asiegbu and sent to the club on Tuesday.

    “I am directed to inform you that the above mentioned competition starts at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos from 11th-18th November 2017. The Nigeria Basketball Federation has nominated your team as one of the teams to represent Nigeria under its auspice in the competition,” read the letter.

    “In the light of the above, you are to convey your acceptance to participate in the competition as soon as possible preferably before 9th November, 2017 at mid-day to facilitate easy administration of the event.”

    The management of the club has since replied the letter sent by the Nigeria Basketball Federation accepting the invitation.

    Rivers Hoopers will join Kano Pillars, Gombe Bulls, Mark Mentors and Civil Defence as the Nigerian representatives for the FIBA Africa Champions Cup Zone 3 Qualifiers in Lagos.

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  • Kano Pillars confirm Musa as technical adviser

    Kano Pillars confirm Musa as technical adviser

    The management of  Kano Pillars FC has confirmed Ibrahim A. Musa as its technical adviser for the forthcoming 2017/2018 NPFL season.
    Musa was appointed as the team’s acting technical adviser last season following the exit of Kadiri Ikhana.
    The chairman of the Club Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Babangida confirmed this in a statemenht signed by the club’s media officer Rilwanu Idris Malikawa after the board’s meeting at the club’s Secretariat in Kano.
    Babangida said the board agreed that  Musa would work with technical crew which includes Ahmad Garba Yaro-Yaro as chief coach, Christopher Friday as Assistant coach and Muzaumid Aliyu to retain his position as Goalkeeper trainer.
    The chairman said the board appointed Kabiru Baleria as the team’s Manager of the club with immediate efffect.
    He said the confirmation of the technical crew to lead the team was based on their commitment when they were in acting capacity in the last season and hoped they would tighten their belts and work hard to redeem the glory of thte club in the forthcoming season.
    He said based on the report of the technical crew the club had agreed to retain twenty two players out of the thirty five players registered last season and the rest lof the players were redeployed to junior Kano pillars FC and those on loan which expired can decide their future in the club.
     Babangida said players redeployed to junior team was based on their performances and technical reasons and their wages would be re-negotiated.
    He said the club invited six new players to reinforce the team from various clubs within and outside the country wghile some of them are expected to be in Kano by this weekend to join the team training session on Monday 9/10/2017.
    The chairman said all the retained players are directed to resume training on Monday and any player who fails to show up should have himself to blame  on any action against him.
    He commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his moral and financial support to the club and thanked fans, state football association, SWAN kano chapter, security personnel, state referees council and entire people of Kano state for their continued support to the club and hoped they would sustain the tempo.
    He said the board has commenced preparation ahead of next season and assured that they would do everything humanly possible to reclaim the club’s position as Nigeria champion at the end of the season.
  • Umar applauds Pillars as they retain Kwese League title

    Umar applauds Pillars as they retain Kwese League title

    Kano Pillars at the weekend successful defended their Nigerian basketball premier league title, when they defeated Gombe Bulls in the final 8 of the Kwese Premier League concluded at the Kofar Mata in Kano.
    Pillars defeated Bulls by 20 points 74-54 to confirm superiority in the Nigerian league. They took home the N20 million champions’ grand prize.
    The factional president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijjani Umar, was full of praises for the Nigerian champions, which he described as very consistent in the past years. “Pillars gave their best in the Kwese Premier League throughout the season, so retaining the league title was not a big surprise. We don’t have any doubt in our mind that Pillars would represent Nigeria well at the next edition of the FIBA Africa Club Championship, together with the runner’s up, Gombe Bulls.”
    For finishing second place, Gombe Bulls got N15 million, While Hoops and Read of Lagos that defeated Kwara Falcons 61-52 in the loser’s final took home N10 million.
    Kano Pillars’ Celestine Nwafor Peter, was voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 Kwese Premier League. He was also voted the league’s Highest Scorer.
    Pillars’ Abubakar Usman Nda, was voted the Best Scorer, Gombe Bulls’ Timothy Kapon got the Best Offensive Player award, while Hoops and Read’s Mustapha Oyebanji was voted as the Best Shooter.
    The Kwese Premier League Best Five were David Godwin of Kwara Falcons, Dele Ademola of Pillars, Mustapha Oyebanji of Hoops and Read, Abubakar Usman Nda and Celestine Nwafor Peter.
    Some of the top sports personalities that presented prizes and individual awards to winners at the grand finale of the Final 8 include: Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association and chairman Kano State Sports Commission, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, former President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Senator U.K Umar, former President of the NBBF, Alhaji Aliyu Bappa, Treasurer of the NOC, Alhaji Abba Yola, former Director, National Sports Commission and Prince Ado Bayero.
  • Nwangwa’s brace lifts Kano Pillars over Lobi Stars

    Nwangwa’s brace lifts Kano Pillars over Lobi Stars

    Nyima Nwangwa scored a brace on Sunday for Kano Pillars to beat visiting Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-1 in a 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.

    Goals in the 29th and 49th minutes of the Match Day 22 fixture played at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano gave Pillars victory.‎

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uchenna Eze’s 85th minute equaliser was not enough to give the visiting Makurdi-based side any reprieve.

    Kano Pillars’ coach Ibrahim Musa told newsmen after the match that his team’s performance was good.‎

    Musa expressed satisfaction with the game’s outcome, saying he was happy that his boys played according to instructions.

    ‎Solomon Ogbede, coach of Lobi Stars, also commended his team for their fighting spirit.

    “Although we lost the match today against Kano Pillars, but I can say that my boys played well,” he said.

  • Kano Pillars appoint Yaro Yaro as acting chief coach

    Kano Pillars appoint Yaro Yaro as acting chief coach

     

    The management of Kano Pillars has elevated coach Ahmed Garba ‘Yaro Yaro’ as the acting chief coach.

    The management  moved Yaro Yaro to the senior team from his former position as head coach of  the junior team.

    The former Nigeria international will stand in for the club’s chief coach Kabiru Baleria who is on leave on medical grounds.

    SportingLife reports that Baleria came back to Nigeria a few weeks ago from India where he travelled for treatment. He also lost his mother, Hajiya Hauwa Umar recently.

    The club’s spokesman, Idris Malikawa said coach Usman Abdullah has been redeployed to Junior Pillars as head coach to replace Yaro Yaro.

    Malikawa said the changes were with immediate effect.

    “The management has sent a sympathising message to our chief coach, Kabiru Baleria who is on leave on medical ground and wishes him quick recovery,”

    The Sai Masu Gida had on Wednesday promoted its coach, Ibrahim A. Musa as acting head coach pending the appointment of a new Technical Adviser.

    Musa will temporarily replace former Technical Adviser, Kadiri Ikhana who resigned last weekend.

    The management also approved the appointment of Friday Christopher as assistant coach of the senior team.

  • LMC says Referees welfare always paramount

    LMC says Referees welfare always paramount

    Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko has clarified the misconception contained in a letter to him by the President of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Tade Azeez which suggested that the LMC neglected to order compensation for the Match Officials assaulted at the Sani Abacha Stadium by some misguided
    fans after the Match Day 18 fixture between Kano Pillars and Akwa United.

    The LMC Chairman said it would be wrong to create an impression that assault on match officials
    has been a regular feature of the NPFL and pointed out that the incident in Kano was just the
    second on-field incident that affected match officials with the first being on Match Day 1 in
    Enugu in the match between Rangers International and Abia Warriors. In this case the LMC fined
    Rangers N250,000 as compensation to the Match Commissioner who was the victim in addition to
    any certified medical expenses that may arise.

    In the Match Day 12 incidence in Nnewi, the LMC investigated the report and found that the
    attack on the match officials could have been a robbery as it happened on their way to the
    motor park a day after the match and wrote to warn FC IfeanyiUbah that Referees must be
    protected until they depart the city. The Match officials’ reports also supported this finding.

    Dikko further corrected the erroneous impression that the compensation for the Match Officials
    assaulted in Kano on Sunday were not covered by the sanctions announced on Tuesday.

    “This was indeed the second charge in the Summary Jurisdiction notice issued Kano Pillars and
    which read, “You are in breach of Rule C1 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria
    Professional League Football League, in that on Sunday, 9th April, 2017, immediately after your
    Match Day 18 Fixture: Kano Pillars FC vs. Akwa United FC, some of your stewards and supporters
    assaulted match officials (including the Referee, the First Assistant Referee, the Second
    Assistant Referee and the Fourth Official), thereby failing to comply with the principles of
    fair play and sportsmanship.

    “We went ahead to fine Kano Pillars N1m for this breach and impose the payment of compensation
    of N250, 000 for each of the four match officials in addition to any verified medical cost that
    the injured officials may bring. This was contained in paragraph B of the Summary Jurisdiction
    notice issued to Kano Pillars”, Dikko further stated.

    The LMC said it considers match officials and the NRA as partners in the organisation of the
    league and advised that all channels of communication existing between the two bodies should
    always be used, harping on the need to avoid public statements that tend to portray the league
    negatively.

    “Our public statement on the recent sanctions started with assurances to Fans, Referees,
    Players, Coaches and Journalists that safety at match venues would continue to be attended to
    at all times and this explains why we have taken deliberate steps to attend to the general and
    individual professional pursuits of our Referees through financial and material support”
    This season, the LMC has included match officials in a comprehensive combined welfare e
    Insurance package for Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) which before now covered only
    Club Officials, Coaches, Players and backroom staff. Indeed, the compensation package
    negotiated for the Referees is higher than all parties as they are at more risk given their
    very critical role in matches. It is noteworthy that the LMC is at present processing claims
    for a Referee who sustained injuries from an accident on his way home from an NPFL match.

    Buttressing further how the LMC has been supportive of the individual and general good of the
    Referees, Dikko said “it is pursuant to enhancing the professional performance of the Referees
    that the LMC has been providing support funding for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
    Referees Committee which collaborates with the NRA in organizing fitness tests and training
    programs to ensure our referees are well trained and attained optimal level.

    “In this ongoing 2016/17 season, it is also on record that the LMC has provided over 100 elite
    Referees with cooler set of three match uniforms free of charge as further motivation to do
    well and reduce the financial burden on Referees in respect of procurement of uniforms”, Dikko
    noted.

    He insisted that contrary to the claims by the NRA President, “all claims arising from previous
    assaults on match officials were remitted directly to the concerned persons directly by the LMC
    which in turn deducts the amount from clubs’ earnings from sponsorship funds. The only
    outstanding claim is that of Referee Ago who in respect of his damaged FIFA wrist watch and for
    which he made an initial claim in dollars but has now agreed to be compensated in Naira”.

    Finally, Dikko assured the NRA President that the LMC will not relent in providing the right
    environment and atmosphere at match venues on match days to ensure that Referees discharged
    their responsibility without hindrance. To this end, additional security measures would be
    instituted at all match venues to ensure the right atmosphere at all matches.

  • Expectations for the week

    Finally, the Big Brother Naija show came to an exciting end yesterday after reaching its peak; Efe Ejeba, a graduate of Economics who hails from Delta state emerged victorious after securing 57% of the total number of votes casted by fans.

    To give you a quick recap, earlier in the program yesterday, Marvis, DebbieRise and Tboss were evicted making Bisola and Efe as the last two standing housemates; eventually, Efe was announced winner. The implication of his meteoric rise to fame means that he gets a cash prize of 25,000,000 naira and an SUV.

    The breakdown of the votes are: Efe (2,502,494), Bisola (704,072), DebbieRise (109,659), while Marvis and Tboss got 57,341 and 683,802 respectively.

    With these numbers of votes, the housemates won’t be the only ones smiling to the bank, the organizers too must be making so much ‘mazuma’ and wishing they can put this up twice in a year.

    After performing many tasks and taking part in this entertaining show, people are hopeful that these individuals will go ahead to blossom in their chosen careers like former Big Brother housemates, Karen Igho, Ebuka Uchendu and Tayo Faniran after now.

    The health crisis ravaging the country seems to be on the increase, over 420 Nigerians have been reported dead as a result of Meningitis. However, the glimmer of light for us all is that a solution is underway.

    In a hilarious slant, the Zamfara State governor added comic spice to the already tense situation when he declared that God was “punishing” his people with the disease.

    Many Nigerians including the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi urged the state governor not to bring God into the picture but rather look for pragmatic solutions to assuage the health crisis that has overtaken his state. In a reprisal response, Yari reiterated his earlier comment, stating that his people have stopped living the life pleasing to God and He was using this medium to punish the people.

    Hopefully, natural solutions and “spiritual” ones too will be gotten quickly so that this very deadly disease will become a thing of the past.  Already, the federal government has commenced vaccination in Zamfara which happens to be the most affected state after recording over 200 deaths to this scourge.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered monies whose owners haven’t showed up to claim them in recent times. They have also been able to get suspects arrested but they have not been able to properly prosecute their cases in court. Judging from very recent examples, the anti-graft agency needs to beef-up its prosecution process to ensure that they are not labeled ‘toothless dog’ by the public.

    President Buhari has equally called upon them to properly dig deeper into issues before dragging suspects to court.

    Mfm fc of Agege has moved back to the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League after trouncing El-Kanemi warriors of Maduguri 3-0 in Lagos at the weekend. With goals from wonderboy Sikiru Olatunbosun, goal king Stephen Odey and Austine Ogunye, the “Olukoya boys” now go top of the log with 33 points followed closely by Plateau United who have a game in hand.

    In an ugly incident over the weekend in the league, fans of Kano Pillars attacked the Akwa United team after losing the home game. Hopefully, proper punishment will be meted out to the club to serve as deterrent to others by the organizers of the league. Also, the organizing body has to ensure they bring the league back on television after two weeks of non-availability of league football live for all to see.

    Segun Odunayo tweets from @Segun_Odunayo