The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano Pillars

  • Kano Pillars, Remo Stars qualify for Gold Cup semis

    Kano Pillars, Remo Stars qualify for Gold Cup semis

    Kano Pillars and Remo Stars have qualified for the semi-finals of the pre-season Gold Cup.

    Pillars, who are Gold Cup defending champions, defeated Niger Tornadoes 1-0 to secure a semi-final spot, while newly promoted NPFL side Remo Stars qualified for the semi-final after defeating non-league FC Yobo 3-2 in the final round of Group B match.

    A resilient team effort was required from Kano Pillars to overcome enterprising Tornadoes who gained better ball possession but were shy in front of goal.

    Adamu Muhammed’s 31st minutes strike ensured ‘Sai Masu Gida’ advanced to the semi-final to cap a remarkable run.

    Pillars recorded eight points from four games, while FC Ebedei garnered seven points from same number of games.

    MFM have six points from three matches with a decisive game at hand against Tornadoes  played yesterday evening.

    ‘Sky Blue Stars’ Remo Stars started like a house on fire and it paid off in the second minute after Ekene Awazie scored from a nice build up.

    Ekene doubled the lead with a beautiful finish just after 15 minutes, before Chukuma Emmanuel pulled one back for FC Yobo in the 37th minute.

    Yobo FC started the second half brilliantly, but they couldn’t make all their efforts in front of goal count against the NPFL newcomers.

    In the 52nd minute, Francis Nwako rounded FC Yobo goalkeeper to shoot into the net to make the scoreline 3-1.

    FC Yobo missed a couple of chances, before Bright Ogbonna scored with a sublime freekick to end the game on an interesting note.

    Remo Stars garnered eight points from four matches and will be up against an unconfirmed opponent from Group A on this evening.

  • Omo Johnson, Zikiye set to complete Wikki Tourists switch

    Omo Johnson, Zikiye set to complete Wikki Tourists switch

    Wikki Tourists of Bauchi are in negotiations to complete transfer deals for the duo of Omo Johnson and Jonathan Zikiye ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    It’s understood that the Bauchi-based outfit are making frantic efforts to make a good replacement for some of its key players that have left the club.

    First team players like Shittu Lawal, Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Muazam’, Christopher Waziri and Charles Henlong have all moved to other clubs while club’s top striker Godwin Obaje is undergoing trials at Spartak Moscow in Russia.

    A source in the team’s camp informed SportingLife that Johnson and Zikiye have resumed at Wikki Tourists camp and they are happy to reunite with their former coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru who is now club’s technical adviser.

    The pair worked under Baba Ganaru at Kano Pillars last season, although, Jonathan left Sai Masu Gida during mid-season transfer to Heartland FC of Owerri.

    “All things being equal, we are in advance talk with Omo Johnson and Jonathan Zikiye as well as other top players too. They are already training with us and hope to finalise the deals very soon,” a source disclosed to SportingLife.

    “We are happy that everything is going as planned. Our pre-season is going on well and I can tell you that there is good understanding between the old and new players. The technical crew under Baba Ganaru is fine-tuning a good programme for the club. We believe to have strong squad for the coming season.”

  • Isah dropped from Kano Pillars squad

    Isah dropped from Kano Pillars squad

    Danladi Isah has been dropped by Kano Pillars from the list of goalkeepers they intend using for the 2016/2017  Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after the former Plateau United goaltender failed to make the cut.

    Isah initially confirmed he would be staying with Plateau United, the club he joined during the mid season last season but he unceremoniously left the team’s Jos camp only to resurface in Uyo with Akwa United where he went to try his luck with the Promise Keepers.

    The ex-Heartland goalkeeper also left Uyo unannounced and was seen in the Lokoja camp of Sai Masu Gida before the latest twist that saw his name not included in the list of the team’s programme for next season.

    Kadiri Ikhana’s led technical crew picked Femi Thomas, Yusuf Muhammed and Pius Ibrahim.

    A source within Pillars told Goal: “We were not surprised at the omission of Danladi Isah in the final cut because we all saw the quality of other goalkeepers in the camp of the team in Lokoja. It is left for him to decide what he will do next with his career.”

    Pillars are striving to stage a big comeback to the premier league after a dull outing last season where they placed seventh on the log with 52 points from 36 matches.

  • No player is collecting N800, 000 monthly salaries at Kano Pillars

    No player is collecting N800, 000 monthly salaries at Kano Pillars

    Pillars FC have debunked a media report that two of its senior players – Gambo Mohammed and Rabi’u Ali are receiving N800, 000 per month salary.

    A statement signed by the club’s media officer, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa, said the report was not correct.

    Malikawa admitted that Sai Masu Gida has a good salary structure for its players but they have never paid 800,000 per month to any player in the history of the club.

    “Kano Pillars FC is a brand in Nigerian football and the team is always giving priority to the welfare of its players and technical crew. We don’t have a player with salary of N800, 000 per month. Journalists should try to always report what is right in order to maintain the image of the profession,’ Malikawa said.

  • Gyang delighted with Kano Pillars’ pre-season

    Gyang delighted with Kano Pillars’ pre-season

    Amos Gyang has said that he is enjoying  pre-season with Kano Pillars.

    The former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions under the guidance of coach Kadiri Ikhana are currently in Lokoja preparing for next season.

    “It has been good out here in Lokoja. We want to get in our rhythm as soon as possible so we are enjoying it. I feel we just want the season to start. It’s definitely positive that’s the main thing about pre-season –  to get the rust out as early as possible and kick on from there,” he told Goal.

    Kano Pillars placed seventh with 52 points at the end of the 2016 NPFL.

  • Kabiru Balogun close to Kano Pillars switch

    Kabiru Balogun close to Kano Pillars switch

    Kano Pillars have begun talks with Ikorodu United’s striker Kabiru Balogun with aim of signing the player ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League season, SportingLife can report.
    A source in the Sai Masu Gida’s camp revealed that the versatile forward had started training with the team as they sweat it out in their pre-season camp in Lokoja.
    Balogun was active in the Ikorudu United team last season but his effort was not enough to save the Oga Boys from relegation.
    “In fact, Balogun started training with us in Kano and he is in camp in Lokoja now. As you can see, the club is determined to do well this season that is why we are bringing quality players into the team. Kabiru and other players that are coming into our team have quality that any team in the league can boast of,” a source
    disclosed to SportingLife.

  • Rabiu Ali’s father dies at 72

    Rabiu Ali’s father dies at 72

    Kano Pillars vice captain, Rabiu Ali’s father Alh Ali Fagge has died.
    Fagge, who died early Saturday morning, was buried at the Rimin kebbe Grave yard in Kano city by 9am according to the islamic rite.
    Fagge died at the age of 72 years after protracted illiness and left behind many children and grand children.
    Hundreds of Muslims ummah across Kano State which includes Kano Pillars fc management, supporters’ club and Chairman Kano State Sports Commission Alh. Ibrahim Galadima attended the burial prayer.
    After the burial the chairman of the club, Alh. Tukur Babangida on behalf of the board, players, technical crew and entire supporters condoled with Rabi’u Ali and his entire family for the lost of their father and prayed to Almighty Allah to give the departed soul jannatul firdausi.
    Tukur described the death as a great lost not only to the Rabi u and his family but to entire Pillars FC family and the Muslims ummah in general.
    SportingLife gathered that football lovers accross the country started trooping to Kano to sympathise with Rabiu who returned to Kano from Lokoja where the Sai Masu Gida is camping for their pre-season preparation ahead of 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

  • Idris Aloma joins Kano Pillars in Lokoja

    Idris Aloma joins Kano Pillars in Lokoja

    Rivers United fullback Idris Aloma has said he is delighted to join the Kano Pillars pre-season training camp in Lokoja.

    According to Aloma, Kano Pillars have been a team after his heart right from his time with El Kanemi Warriors.

    “El Kanemi played their home games in Kano then and they contacted me but I chose to join Enyimba. But I am happy that I will now play for them under the coach who was in charge of Enyimba when I won the league two seasons ago,” he said.

    “Coach Kadiri Ikhana knows what I am capable of and I am ready to give my best and justify the invitation to Pillars.”

  • Kano Pillars release five players

    Kano Pillars release five players

    Kano Pillars Football Club have declared five of its players surplus to requirement.

    The club’s Media Officer, Idris Malikawa said the affected players were released based on the recommendations of its technical crew.

    Malikawa said the report indicated that the players did not perform well last season while some were dropped on medical ground.

    He said the management thanked them for the services rendered to the club and wish them the best in their future endeavours.

    He also hinted that the new players who are on the radar of the club were expected to hit the ancient city of Kano on Friday to begin preparation for the coming football season.

    Malikawa also disclosed that the new Technical Adviser, Kadiri Ikhana took charge of the affairs of the training programme on Thursday at Sani Abacha Stadium Kano, warning the players that he would not accept any acts of indiscipline from any one of them.

    Ikhana also told them that the programme for the season had commenced with a twice daily training session, to keep them in shape for the coming season.

  • Kano Pillars place five players on transfer

    Kano Pillars place five players on transfer

    Kano Pillars Football Club of Kano have declared five of its players surplus to requirement.

    The club’s Media Officer Idris Malikawa said the affected players were released based on the recommendations from its technical crew.

    Malikawa said the report indicated that the players did not perform well last season while some were dropped on medical ground.

    He said the management thanked them for the services rendered to the club and wish them the best in their future endeavours.

    He also hinted that the new players who are on the radar of the club are expected to hit camp at the ancient city of Kano today (Friday) to begin preparations for the coming football season.

    Malikawa also disclosed that the new Technical Adviser, Kadiri Ikhana took charge of the affairs of the training programme on Thursday at Sani Abacha Stadium Kano, warning the players that he would not accept any acts of indiscipline from any of them.

    Ikhana also told them that the programme for the season has commenced with a twice daily training session, to keep them in good shape for the coming season.