The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pillars

  • Gyang hopes to extend Pillars stay

    Gyang hopes to extend Pillars stay

    Amos Gyang has said he hopes to extend his stay at Kano Pillars after he was picked as man of the match in Saturday’s hard-fought 1-0 home win over MFM FC.

    Skipper Gambo Mohammed was the match winner for Pillars with a header off a cross from Zakka Bala in the 61st minute, few minutes after he missed what could have been the opener for the home team.

    Gyang is on a free loan to Pillars after Giwa FC were expelled from the league this season.

    “Gyang said he hopes that after his loan deal at the end of the season, he will wish to stay back with Pillars,” Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa disclosed.

    “He said he is very much at home with us and that was why he has settled down quickly in the team.”

    The midfield dynamo scored on his debut at Akwa United.

    And on Saturday, the exciting midfielder was denied a goal in the 50th minute by the brilliance of the MFM goalkeeper.

  • Pillars battle Espanyol, Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa tourney

    Pillars battle Espanyol, Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa tourney

    Kano Pillars will feature in an invitational tournament in South Africa that will attract Spanish La Liga side, Espanyol, South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaiser Chiefs, officials have announced.

    This year’s Amanxamalala Mzanzi International Cup (AMIC 2016)is a charity cup that identifies with 40 charity organisations in South Africa.

    “Both the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company (LMC) have approved our participation in the tournament,” disclosed Pillars management board member, Hassan Abdullahi Garo. We will be good ambassadors for Nigeria football.”

    A delegation of 35 players and officials will depart the country for the competition next month.

  • Enyimba stop Pillars again

    Enyimba stop Pillars again

    Enyimba recorded double over rivals Kano Pillars after they won 2-1 in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    The Nigeria champions also defeated Pillars 2-1 in Kano in the first round of the championship. Enyimba are now fourth on the table with 40 points, six points adrift of new league leaders, Enugu Rangers. Pillars are fifth on the standings with 39 points.

    Ifeanyi Anaemena fired Enyimba ahead in the 10th minute, but veteran striker Adamu Mohammed drew level.

    Uche John scored the match winner in the 73rd minute from the penalty spot after Stephen Chukwude was brought down inside the box on his way to goal.

    This was minutes after Enyimba were denied a penalty after Joseph Osadiaye was also felled inside the box. In the 90th minute, Pillars goalkeeper David Obiozor pulled off a big save to deny Chukwude from point-blank range.

  • Pillars can still be champions – Babaganaru

    Pillars can still be champions – Babaganaru

    Kano Pillars coach, Mohammed Babaganaru has said his team could still be Nigeria league champions after they trounced Lobi Stars 3-0 on Sunday with star midfielder Rabiu Ali, the Man of the Match.

    “The league is still very much open with 11 rounds of matches and I still believe my boys can be champions,” said Babaganaru.

    “Anything could still happen in this league.

    “The fans just have to be more patient and we will make them proud at the end of the season.”

    Pillars are fourth on the league table with 39 points, four points behind leaders, Wikki Tourists.

    Adamu Mohammed opened scoring for Pillars in the second minute, before Rabiu Ali made it 2-0 on 33 minutes and Jamiu Alimi sealed the big home win with his first goal for the club in the 73rd minute.

    Goalkeeper David Obiozor ensured he kept a clean sheet when he stopped a Tony Opotu penalty in the 83rd minute.

    Rabiu Ali dedicated his Man of the Match award to the fans, saying it is a belated Sallah gift to them.

  • Akwa United beat Pillars 2-1

    Akwa United beat Pillars 2-1

    Amos Gyang made a goal-scoring debut but his effort was not enough for Kano Pillars to win at Akwa United, who fought back to win 2-1.

    Gyang, who started for Pillars since he was released from expelled club, Giwa FC, hit target after 55 minutes, when he smashed home from the edge of the box.

    However, the home team restored parity in the 77th minute courtesy of Kounnou Paterne from a goalmouth scramble.

    They then grabbed the match winner three minutes from time, when an unmarked Yusuf Adio turned in a free kick.

  • Pillars’ Edmund out for two weeks

    Pillars’ Edmund out for two weeks

    Kano Pillars will be missing the services of influential striker, Emmanuel Edmund for the next two weeks owing to injury, an official of Sai Masu Gida has told SportingLife.

    Edmund, who joined Pillars at the beginning of the season, sustained a groin injury in the match with Abia Warriors last weekend and the Media Officer of the club, Idris Malikawa informed SportingLife that the forward has been ruled out for at least two weeks.

    Malikawa has however disclosed that even though the striker’s services will be missed during their next league tie in Uyo against Akwa United on Sunday, he is convinced that other players in the team will step up to fill the gap left by Edmund.

    Pillars are fourth on the league table with 36 points from 23 matches and they will like to consolidate on their 5-0 whitewash of Abia Warriors in Kano last Sunday when they face Akwa United at the Nest of Champions’ Stadium this weekend.

  • We’re robbed in Bauchi – Pillars

    We’re robbed in Bauchi – Pillars

    Kano Pillars have alleged they were robbed of victory at league leaders, Wikki Tourists after the referee “manufactured three red cards and a penalty” against them.

    Wikki came from a goal down in the first half to beat Kano Pillars 3-1 at home yesterday to stay top of the Nigeria league table.

    However, Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa told AfricanFootball.com his team deserved to win this match but the referee from Niger State and his assistants combined to ensure they did not.

    “They simply manufactured three red cards against us – to start with the foul that was penalised in the 48th minute was not committed by Jamiu Alimi, but Joel Djondang,” said Malikawa.

    “Even the penalty against us for their second goal was not a penalty. The referee manufactured it.

    “We deserved to win this game because up to the 77th minute, there was no pressure on us, we had full control of the game.

    “But some other people simply said Wikki must win this game by any means possible.

    “We are highly disappointed and demand the LMC investigate what happened in this match.”

  • Muazam’s brace help Wikki beat 8-man Pillars 3-1

    Muazam’s brace help Wikki beat 8-man Pillars 3-1

    Nigeria league leaders, Wikki Tourists consolidated their top spot on the table after they came from behind to beat eight-man Kano Pillars 3-1 at home on Sunday courtesy of a brace by debut boy ‘Muazam’ Alhassan Ibrahim.

    Wikki remain top of the pile on 41 points from 22 matches.

    The reverse fixture in the first round ended 2-1 in favour of Pillars.

    Striker Emanuel Edmund put visiting Kano Pillars ahead in the 35th minute, when he fired home from outside the box.

    Pillars were reduced to 10 men when defender Jamiu Alimi was sent off for a second booking in the 48th minute.

    Debutant ‘Muazam’ drew Wikki level in the 77th minute with a header, before Abubakar Lawal made it 2-1 for the home team in the 84th minute from a penalty spot.

    ‘Muazam’ then grabbed his brace in stoppage time.

    Another Pillars player was sent off in the 82nd minute, before his teammate Tijjani Adamu was sent off in the 90th minute.

  • Babaganaru under pressure to return Pillars to winning ways

    Babaganaru under pressure to return Pillars to winning ways

    Kano Pillars’ media officer, Idris Malikawa though denied that SaiMasu Gida head coach, Mohammed Babaganaru was facing any sack threat but pointed out that the team’s coach knows that their recent results have not been impressive and must change ahead of their NPFL Match Day 23 tie with Wikki Tourists today.

    Malikawa told SportingLife that the club management and players are fully behind their head coach and that the former Nasarawa United helmsman has not lost the control of the dressing room as was speculated.

    The media officer however, revealed that coach Babaganaru and the Kano Pillars’ management were  not happy with the spate of the unimpressive results recorded recently, one  which reached his crescendo on Wednesday when the club was booted out of the 2016 Federation Cup in the Round of 32 against less fancied Prime FC of Oshogbo.

    He further stated that Pillars want a turnaround against Wikki today and that the management is not all that happy that despite giving the players and the coaches arguably the best welfare package in the country, the team is far from realising his dream of reclaiming the league title.

    Pillars are fourth on the league table with 33 points from 21 matches and are away in Bauchi to tackle neighbours Wikki Tourists in a Match Day 23 tie today.

  • Osanga, Gyang, Madaki, Helong, Olorunleke, 3 others join Pillars

    Osanga, Gyang, Madaki, Helong, Olorunleke, 3 others join Pillars

    • Place eight on transfer

     

    Kano Pillars have recruited eight players during the ongoing mid-season transfer window while declaring eight surplus to requirement.

    The club’s media officer, Idris Malikawa, disclosed to SportingLife that the club signed former junior international, King Osanga from Warri Wolves.

    He stressed that Sai Masu Gida recruited four players from Giwa FC which include Charles Helong, Chris Madaki, Amos Gyang and goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo.

    Other new signings are Ifeanyi Nweke from Nasarawa United, Sani Emma Ambrose from Kaduna United and Rasaq Adegbite from Sunshine Stars.

    Malikawa said the club released eight players to make way for the new players. He said the players were dropped due to injury and below par performances.

    The club’s image-maker said the technical crew has been charged to find a lasting solution to the team’s problem.

    “The government and people of Kano State are not happy with the way things are going in the team. The technical crew has been charged to find a lasting solution to the problem while players were urged to be focused. The issue of who is going to win the league is very open and management still expects the team to be champions at the end of the season. We believe in the ability of the new players and we praise the released players for their contribution to the club. We wish them best of luck. They are part of Pillars any time,” Malikawa said to SportingLife.