The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pillars

  • Pillars win prelude to CRD tie, says Emordi

    Pillars win prelude to CRD tie, says Emordi

    Enugu Rangers’ coach, Okey Emordi has said his side’s 4-0 win against Kano Pillars in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday Nine encounter in Enugu is a strong sign of what to expect at the Angolan side, Clube Recreativo Desportivo (CRD) do Libolo at the weekend.

    The CAF Champions League first fixture second round encounter at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on April 21 ended in a barren draw.

    Emordi said the Nigerian champions have toughened his side for the make-or-break battle in Luanda, Angola.

    “The massive league victory against Kano Pillars is a prelude or dress rehearsal of what to expect in Angola against Clube Recreativo Desportivo (CRD) do Libolo.

    “Pillars gave my side a tough game the type of opposition we needed going into the Champions League battle. I’m happy the goals that deserted us when we hosted the Angolan side, CRD have suddenly resurfaced massively, we hope to re-enact the feat in Angola.

    “The spirit among the players is very high courtesy of the motivation from the management, they’re good to go to make Nigerians happy once again,” said the former Enyimba manager to supersport.com.

    Emordi is hopeful that the hitches around Nigerian forward, Sunday Mba will be over on time for him to be part of the squad.

    “Mba’s case is on top banner, we still hope he’ll be free and ready on time to play in Angola against CRD do Libolo,” he said.

    Rangers who are the only Nigeria side left on the continent are expected to depart the nation’s shores on Wednesday forLuanda, Angola for the decisive clash.

  • Pillars get N50,000 boost

    Pillars get N50,000 boost

    RE-ELECTED Kano Pillars chairman, Bashir Idris Mua’zu on Monday rewarded players with the sum of fifty thousand naira (N50, 000) ahead of Wednesday week 8 crucial Nigeria professional Football League (NPFL) tie against Heartland.

    Club secretary, Bashari Ahmed Maizare, who disclosed this to SportingLife, said Mua’zu gave the money to the players during his visit to their training camp to appreciate their efforts so far this season.

    The defending champions are currently topping the log with 16 points from seven matches played so far.

    “I am here on behalf of the new executive committee and entire supporters of the club to come and show our appreciation for your efforts so far in the league. We are very proud of you and we hope you will continue with this form till the end of the season. We will do more for you if you win the league at the end of the season,” chairman of Kano Pillars fans club, Bashir Idris Mua’zu.

    “We will continue to give you all necessary support in your quest to retain the title which is the prayer of every Kano Pillars supporters. And I believe Insha Allah you will deliver.” The club secretary, Bashari Ahmed Maizare thanks the fans club executive for their support to the team. “This is special because the supporters clubs are only known for clapping and singing during matches but in a situation where the fans club is now giving money to the players is commendable. The players and the club’s officials appreciate this and we thank Mua’zu and his new executive for their kind gesture.”

  • Pillars depart for Port-Harcourt today

    Pillars depart for Port-Harcourt today

    League Champions Kano Pillars will leave Kano this morning for Port-Harcourt ahead of Sunday’s week 7 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) tie against Sharks FC.

    The Pyramid City side defeated Sunshine Stars of Akure 1-0 in a week 6 league game on Wednesday to consolidate their lead on the table with 15 points from six games played this season.

    The team’s media officer, Idris Malikawa told SportingLife that the Pyramid City side will stop over in Owerri and will be there till Saturday before heading to Port-Harcourt same morning.

    Malikawa also hinted that the team is poised for three points in Port-Harcourt.

    “We want to do everything to retain the league title this season because we want to return to the continent next season. We have plans to begin the Port-Harcourt trip early by leaving tomorrow (Friday) morning so that we can have enough rest before the match on Sunday. We will have a stop-over in Owerri before departing for Port-Harcourt Saturday morning.

    “We hope for a good result against Sharks and we believe we can get something from the game. We’ve put the CAF Champions League disappointment behind us and are now fully focused on the league.”

  • Pillars saw hell in Congo laments coach

    Pillars saw hell in Congo laments coach

    Pillars coach Mohamed Babaganaru has told MTNFootball.com his team saw hell in Congo where they were eliminated in the CAF Champions League.

    The Nigeria champions failed to protect a 4-1 first leg advantage against AC Leopard of Congo as they lost 3-0 in the reverse tie at the weekend to crash out of the competition on the away goal rule.

    Pillars coach Babaganaru disclosed that a lot happened to the team on and off the pitch which caused the club’s premature exit from the competition.

    “We saw hell in Congo; I don’t know a better word I could use to qualify the harassment we had to endure throughout our stay there. They denied us access to training facilities ahead of the game. Not to talk of the very poor officiating. They seized our camera. I have never witnessed this kind of horror in my career,” Babaganaru told MTNFootball.com.

    “Their fans threw missiles at our players throughout the game. They broke into our dressing room and stole all the players’ mobile phones. The stopped our fans from getting into the stadium. This was all barbaric!

    “To add salt to injury, the officiating was the worst ever I have ever seen. The first goal was a clear off side. The second was a penalty and third ought not to stand. He awarded a penalty to us and our player was positioned to play it before the referee changed his mind and ruled for a goal kick.”

    Ivorian referee Doue Noumandiez handled the first round second leg clash.

  • Pillars to unleash F/Eagles star on Leopards

    Pillars to unleash F/Eagles star on Leopards

    Kano Pillars have said they will unleash Flying Eagles defensive midfielder, Shehu Abdullahi on their CAF Champions League opponents, the Athletic Club Leopards de Dolisie of Congo this weekend.

    The Kano club won the first fixture, first round encounter 4-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

    Abdullahi was vital in the middle of coach John Obuh’s Flying Eagles that finished third at the just concluded Africa Youth Championship (AYC) in Algeria. The side were expected in the country yesterday.

    An official of the side, Idris Malikawa said the midfielder will be part and parcel of the squad to confront the Congolese side once he arrives on time to meet the team’s departure arrangement and is fit for the crunch encounter.

    “We hope to feature Shehu Abdullahi against AC Leopards but that depends on the arrival time of the Flying Eagles in the country and whether he’ll be satisfied fit for the encounter. If he’s approved for the encounter we would like to have him, he’s one of our regulars in the middle,” he said to supersport.com.

    Malikawa said Pillars are going to Dolisie, Congo for outright victory at AC Leopards.

    “We’ve served the notice of what to expect in Dolisie, Congo against AC Leopards with the 3-2 win at ABS in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 5 in llorin.

    “We’re going to Dolisie for a win, nothing short of a convincing victory. We know it will be a tough duel but the players have assured they’ll do whatever it takes to achieve victory at AC Leopards’ backyard.

    “We’ve received dossier on their fans’ hostility, and we’ve taken adequate measure to ensure it doesn’t work against us. We’ll come back with a decent result that will put smiles on Nigerians’ faces,” he said.

    Malikawa informed that Kano Pillars will travel on a chartered flight and head back home shortly after the game.

    “We’re yet to confirm the matchday but if the game is on Sunday we’ll depart on Saturday, however, if it’s on Saturday we’ll leave on Friday. The matchday will determine the departure date but we’ll return immediately after the match,” he said.

    The decisive tie will hold at the 20,000-capacity Stade Denis Sassou Nguesso, Dolisie.

  • Shobowale respects Pillars

    Shobowale respects Pillars

    3SC midfielder, Azeez Shobowale has described his side’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 4 opponents, Kano Pillars as a tough nut to crack.

    The Pyramid City side will play hosts to the Ibadan-based side in Thursday’s thriller at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

    Both sides achieved mixed fortunes in their NPFL Matchday 3 ties. While the Nigerian champions fell 0-1 at Akwa United in Uyo, the Oluyole Warriors defeated Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup campaigners, Lobi Stars 3-1 in Ibadan.

    Shobowale said though it appears a tall order targeting an outright victory at Kano Pillars his side are certain to pick a point from the expected tough encounter.

    “I’m absolutely certain we’ll leave Kano with a point. As much as it looks tough for an outright win, we won’t lose in the encounter. We have the calibre of players who will do the dirty job at Kano Pillars; the spirit among my teammates is very high after the 3-1 win over the highly-rated Lobi Stars.

    “The winning mentality that saw us overrun Lobi is what we’re taking to Pillars and I’m confident we won’t come back empty-handed. Who knows we could cause an upset with an emphatic win,” said the former Dolphins’ playmaker to supersport.com.

    3SC have picked six points from a maximum of nine while the nation’s CAF Champions League hopeful, Kano Pillars have amassed same number of points.

  • Pillars coach confirms Kwara interest

    Pillars coach confirms Kwara interest

    Kano Pillars coach Mohammed Babaganaru has confirmed to MTNFootball.com he has been approached by Kwara United.

    The NPL title-winning coach said he has been shortlisted by ‘The Afonja Warriors’ for interview for a possible employment, but said he is still a Kano Pillars Coach.

    “Kwara United want me. I have been shortlisted for interview by the club and they have contacted me to that effect. We are yet to talk, nothing is agreed, so I am still Kano Pillars Coach, where we have started training ahead of new season,” he told MTNFootball.com.

    “Even if I attend the interview, it does not mean I have joined Kwara United or I have left Kano Pillars, let us wait and see.”