Tag: Pillars

The League Management Company (LMC) has sympathised with the board and management of Kano Pillars whose technical officials were involved in a road accident while returning from the Federation Cup quarter final match in Ilorin against Warri Wolves.

Chairman of the LMC, Nduka Irabor, who flew into Abuja Thursday afternoon, made several contacts with Abba Galadima, the Kano Pillars General Manager, to ascertain the extent of the accident and consequently announced a postment of the Glo Premier League match this weekend between the club and Akwa United. Irabor commended Akwa United for their understanding and accepting that the match be put on hold.

“We obviously are saddened by the report of the accident involving Kano Pillars in Gangarida, Ikara Local Government Council of Kaduna State on their way to Kano. I am in contact with the club officials and I’m wishing the injured quick recovery while we continue to monitor the situation,” Irabor remarked.

Pillars were knocked out of the Federation Cup Wednesday night in Ilorin and were returning to Kano ahead of the Glo Premier League which they are the defending champions. However, the LMC says the match will now hold on a date to be determined next week. “We have agreed with Akwa United that this weekend’s Glo League fixture between the two teams be postponed to allow Pillars recover from the trauma. We commend officials of Akwa United for showing an understanding of the situation. It was a great demonstration of sportsmanship from them to readily agree to the postponement which was coming on very short notice,” stated the LMC chairman.

 •Rabiu Ali returns 

Kano Pillars’ Technical Adviser Mohammed Baba Ganaru is eagerly anticipating Wednesday’s Federation Cup quarter final against Warri Wolves in Ilorin.

The Pyramid City side have never won the converted trophy since the club was founded in 1990 and Ganaru believe the time is ripe for the club to write its name in the history book of the competition.

Pillars’ hope of clinching the trophy last year was dashed by Lobi Stars when they lost to the Markurdi-based side in the semi final.

Masu Gida reached the final of the tournament in 1991 but lost the crown to their northern neighbours El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri 2-3.

“Our mind is really on this competition. The preparation is in top gear ahead of the Warri Wolves game on Wednesday as usual.

“Kano Pillars have never won this championship before and everybody in Kano State wants this trophy. We almost won it last season but missed by a whisker. We were beaten by Lobi Stars in the Semi Final,” Ganaru told SportingLife.

“We want to be part of history and I think the best time to win it is now.

“Our team is intact and everybody is doing everything humanly posible to see that we achieve it.

“We know that we are in for a serious challenge against Warri Wolves but we are banking on God for the victory.

“It is going to be an explosive match because it is a match between two league clubs. They defeated us 2-1 in the league but this is a neutral ground and we believe we can win it.”

Pillars have also received a boost with the return of utility mid-fielder Rabiu Ali. Ali was part of the Super Eagles squad that travelled to Abidjan for last Saturday’s African Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Cote d’Ivoire.

Players and officials of Kano Pillars arrived in Ilorin yesterday while their fans are expected to storm the State of Harmony today and tomorrow.

Players and officials of Kano Pillars are expected in Lafia today ahead of Wednesday’s Federation Cup round of 32 game against El Kanemi.

A club official informed SportingLife that the team will depart Kano for Lafia at 7am this morning in preparation for the match.

The coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru-led side lost the bronze medal to Prime FC of Oshogbo in last season’s Federation Cup.

Wednesday’s encounter will be the third time the northern sides will meet this season.

Pillars defeated El Kanemi 2-0 in the first round of the Globacom Premier League in Kano while El Kanemi responded with the same scoreline in Maiduguri in the second leg.

The club’s media officer Idris Malikawa said Pillars are poised to surpass last year’s record.

“We are going for the decider. We have met twice this season and we won a match each. On Wednesday, we will know the stronger team between the two sides after the final whistle.

“All said and done, it is still going to be a brotherly affair because the two clubs have many things in common. Whatever comes out of the game would be accepted by everybody,” Malikawa said.

“We are preparing for the game and we will not take things with levity. “We want to win to consolidate our fine form to the season. We had our last training this (Sunday) evening and I can confirm that the players are in the right frame of mind for the match.”

Glo Nigeria Premier League champions, Kano Pillars will now face one of Asante Kotoko SC, RCD Espanyol or Ismaily SC in September in the Lagos International Football Tournament (LIFT).

The tournament organisers announced on Monday that the new date for LIFT will be from September 5 to 8. The four-team competition was earlier billed to hold between July 25 and 28.

Initiator of the pre-season programme and former Super Eagles midfield player, Mutiu Adepoju said the change in date was forced by the month of Ramadan which takes place between July and August.

“It has become very necessary to postpone the tournament which was earlier scheduled for July 25 to 28 to September 5th through 8th to allow our Muslim brothers in the participating teams observe the month of Ramadan which starts on July 7 and ends on August 6. We are very sensitive to issue like this, so we have no choice than to respect the rights of our Muslim brothers who are training hard ahead of the tournament,” said Adepoju.

Lagos State Football Association chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi, also explained that the schedule of the Federation Cup (formerly the FA Cup) also forced a change in the tournament’s date.

The Federation Cup final stages are expected to hold in July at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos and Akinwunmi said the Lagos FA wants to avoid a jammed calendar next month.

“Apart from the fact that the Ramadan is coming up in the month of July, the Federation Cup is also coming at the same period, with Lagos State as the host of the two tournaments. We definitely have to re-schedule one of the events. So after a meeting of all stakeholders, it was unanimously agreed that the best period after July is to target the FIFA Free Week, which runs from September 6th to 10th,” said Akinwunmi.

LIFT has also received the support of the Lagos State government.

“If the postponement will translate to good organisation and overall success of the tourney, the Lagos State government is in full support. Let me tell you, from day one, His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State has pledged his support for the tournament, not only for this year, but for the subsequent editions. We must all work together to make the first edition a success, with this, the next edition will be a piece of cake,” the Lagos State Commissioner for Sports & Youth Development, Hon Waidi Enitan Oshodi said.

The tournament will hold annually, according to Adepoju. The maiden edition of LIFT will start with the four clubs drawn in a knockout format.

Kano Pillars have returned to the top of the Nigeria league after they defeated Kaduna United 3–2 courtesy of a disputed last-gasp winner.

Pillars now have 25 points from 13 games as erstwhile leaders Heartland lost 2-1 at Sunshine Stars.

Kano Pillars coach Mohammed Babaganaru told MTNFootball.com that his boys underrated Kaduna United which almost backfired.

“Our boys underrated Kaduna United and that was why the game was difficult,” he said.

“After we scored the early goal, they relaxed thinking it was going to be easy and we started losing chances upon chances, before we knew it, they equalised and even went in front. We came back strongly and eventually won.

“I think my players would have learnt a big lesson from this, you don’t need to underrate any team especially a struggling team.”

Kaduna United coach Ben Duamlong told MTNFootball.com his team were robbed with a dubious penalty awarded the home team in the dying moments of the encounter.

“We lost 3-2 to Pillars, but the third goal was manufactured for them in added time,” said the experienced Duamlong.

The defending champions opened scoring through enterprising playmaker Rabiu Ali in the first minute of the game, before Tijani Adamu equalised for Kaduna United in the 12th minute.

Kano Pillars were then stunned by the visitors, who took the lead in the 51st minute through Michael Anthony.

Kabiru Umar restored parity for Pillars in the 55th minute, before Rabiu Ali completed his brace in the 90th minute via a penalty.