Kano Pillars new hit man, Godspower Aniefiok Tower made his third consecutive start for the League cup holders in the Match Day 16 fixture against El-Kanemi Warriors and believes he has settled down enough to help the club reverse some of their recent floundering performances.
His substitution on Match Day 14 against Dolphins set the fans against Coach Okey Emordi after the encounter finished 2-2.
Pillars were recently beaten by Warri Wolves, Sunshine Stars and Rangers International while drawing 2-2 with Dolphins in Kano to drop out of the top four places on the log.
Tower has in contrast to the club’s fortune enjoyed positive reviews following his debut start against Dolphins in which he scored and followed up with another goal in their 2-1 defeat to Rangers International in Enugu on Match Day 15.
Their 1-0 win over El-Kanemi Warriors in their last game could only push them two spots from 9th to 7th and they go to Uyo this Sunday against Akwa United, the club that gave Aniefiok his first Premier League break.
Aniefiok had made the switch from Akwa United last season to link up with the champions only to find himself play his first game as a substitute in their CAF Champions League clash away to Al-Malaikia of Sudan.
He then made his first appearance in the league still as a substitute in their 1-0 loss to Warri Wolves on Match Day 11 before grabbing a first team shirt against Dolphins on Match Day 14.
Aniefiok says he is happy with the progression of his career at Kano and not perturbed by the initial limited roles he has had to play in their campaign.
“I was not worried before now for the lack of playing time at Pillars since the season started. I think it was the best decision by the technical crew to keep me on bench and I am not complaining about that because their decision is always for the success of the team.
“I am happy to have made my first start against Dolphins in Week 14 and I proved my worth to the fans. That is just a tip off the iceberg because I am now ready to take the team back to their traditional position. I also urge the fans to be patient with us as very soon we will bounce back,” pleaded the offensive midfielder who started off at the Greater Tomorrow Sports Academy in his home state of Akwa Ibom State in 2008.
His quest for a professional career will lead him to the Flying Sports Academy in Festac Town, Lagos State in 2011 and after two years, Aniefiok returned to the Greater Tomorrow Academy from where he was invited to play for Akwa United for his first professional stint in 2013. He was only registered for the Federation Cup competition but never kicked the ball before their elimination. But he made his mark in the league, scoring five goals in a handful of appearances for the Uyo Promise Keepers in that his first season.
That impressive showing for Akwa United did not go un-noticed by the National U-23 team coach, Samson Siasia who extended an invitation to the player but he had to excuse himself from their camp following the death of his father in their native Uyo town.
Now he has completely shaken off the emotional problems of his dad’s death, Aniefiok has declared intent to get back to the national team believing he is at the top of his game.
On his national team ambitions, the tall player said: “I am playing at a very top form now as you can see with two goals in two matches, one apiece against Dolphins and Rangers. I hope to improve on the five goals of my first season at Akwa United by scoring more goals for Pillars.
“With a good form I can get a National team call-up, but my immediate priority is to help my team maintain the record of winning trophies, that will also help me to win my first league title.”
On the mentality at Kano Pillars, he said the entire squad is looking to mount a formidable challenge for the Federation Cup title to assuage the club Management that has not been happy with their inability to win the trophy over the years.
“We are working out strategies to win the Federation Cup for the first time because the management has complained bitterly about the trophy that has eluded us in the past seasons. They (management) has giving us the boost and mandate to go all the way and win the cup. God willing this is our season,” he asserted.
In the match against Dolphins, the fans protested the substitution of Aniefiok after he netted the second goal and they took it out on Coach Okey Emordi at the end of the game, calling him names. Aniefiok says the fans in Kano are wonderful not for their reaction to his substitution but because “the fans are very accommodating and loving. I like them and they just want to see me play. The environment is also good for me…I love the place”.
