The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pillars

  • Edjomarigwe happy with Pillars debut

    Edjomarigwe happy with Pillars debut

    Former Shooting Stars midfielder Tony  Edjomarigwe has expressed his delight after making a winning debut for Kano Pillars, who defeated Dolphins FC 2-0 in the opening game of the 2015 Super Six Football Tournament on Saturday.

    The Super Eagles B star joined Pillars from Nasarawa United and played his part in the victory. He started as the Nigeria Professional Football League reigning champions claimed a 2-0 win over the Pride of Rivers at the Abuja National Stadium.

    Edjomarigwe was delighted with the victory dedicating it to hard work.

    “It was a great performance from the team, but I feel we can get better with matches,” Edjomarigwe told sl10.ng at the match venue.

    Defender Samuel Tswanya put Pillars in front in the ninth minute as he hammered the ball past goalkeeper Rotimi Sunday from just inside the area.

    New signing Christian Obiozor added the second in the 12th minute directing Rabiu Ali’s pass into the net.

  • Umar sure of Pillars’ Champions League campaign

    Umar sure of Pillars’ Champions League campaign

    NPFL champions, Kano Pillars, will start their quest in their forth attempt to make an impact in the CAF Champions League in February against South Sudan club, Malaika.

    Kano Pillars, who won the domestic title thrice in a row, had their best performance in the CAF Champions League in 2009 where they made the last four but since then it’s been poor adventure, losing out on two occasions in the qualifying stage.

    The General Manager of Kano Pillars FC, Babangida Umar confirmed to SL10.ng in a chat in Abuja that he is optimistic that Kano Pillars will lift the CAF Champions League Trophy this season.

    “This time around we shall lift the CAF Champions League,” Babangida Umar said confidently

    “We’ve started preparation in good time, we’ve added quality players to the team, we are getting good support from the government. The government has released funds to Kano Pillars. We were in camp in Kaduna before the team left for Abuja to participate in the pre-season tournament. So I’m sure Kano Pillars will do well in the competition.

    “Some of the technical committee members are gathering some intelligence reports on  our opponent in the CAF Champions League. We shall leave Abuja for Ghana to continue our preparation. We are completely focused,” Babangida stated.

    The Nigerian champions, Kano Pillars have failed to reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League in their last two attempts but Babangida Umar believes some problems after their performance last year.

    “Last year, we had a major problem of late preparation for the CAF Champions League but this time around we’ve started preparations earlier.

    However the Pillars GM, Babangida has frowned at some Premier League clubs that have failed to honour the agreed terms with Kano Pillars as regards players transfer.

    “We didn’t go to the Super 4 tournament with our full squad because we had challenges clearing four of our players, two from Gombe United, Giwa FC and Akwa United.

    “We had an agreement with these clubs in the presence of our lawyer and immediately the government released some money to Kano Pillars we paid them but it’s sad that some of our colleagues (Premier League clubs)  just want to frustrate us because they are yet to release the players clearance,”said Babangida.

  • Pillars get 14-man CAF Champions league committee

    Pillars get 14-man CAF Champions league committee

    Kano State government yesterday inaugurated a 14-man committee that will oversee Kano Pillars’ CAF Champions League programme, SportingLife can reveal.

    The Deputy Governor, Umar Danguje inaugurated the committee at his house, Nasarawa GRA, Kano State.

    The club’s media officer, Idris Malikawa, who disclosed the information to Sportinglife, said the committee has been mandated to guide the team to a successful CAF Champions League campaign.

    The government also charged the committee to use their experience to create revenue and sponsorship for the team while promising to give them maximum support and cooperation.

    According to Malikawa, Deputy Governor  Danguje will serve as the chairman of the committee while former NFA chairman Ibrahim Galadima was picked as deputy chairman.

    The Permanent Secretary Deputy Governor’s Office, Usman Bala will be the secretary.

    Other members are  former Kano Pillars chairman Addau Lawan, General Manager Kano Pillars, Babangida Umar, Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Sport, Uba Danzainab and former chairman Kano Pillars Abba Yola.

    Others are former sole administrator, Kano Pillars, Kabiru Baita, Commissioner for Justice, Maliki Kuliya, Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr Adamu Yunusa Dangwani, Kano State FA chairman, Sheriff Rabiu, two representatives from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), former Sunshine Stars MD Mike Idoko and Akimi Mohammed.

    “The committee is full of experienced and seasoned administrators. We believe with these credible people the team stands a good chance to perform creditably well in the competition. The government means well for the team and that is why the committee was inaugurated. They will be in the position to determine the club’s activities in the continental assignment,” Malikawa told SportingLife.

  • SOFOLUWE TO PILLARS, ENYIMBA: Don’t treat continental assignment with levity

    SOFOLUWE TO PILLARS, ENYIMBA: Don’t treat continental assignment with levity

    Management of league winners Pillars and runners up Enyimba have been told to take preparation for their continental outings seriously if they wish to do well.

    Former international Yisa Sofoluwe, who gave the charge, said there is more to winning the premier league and picking a continental ticket, noting that lack of proper preparation, poor approach to management and over confidence had in the past stopped teams with potentials from achieving set goals.

    The Dean of Defence, as he was fondly called in his days in the national team, added that with the improving standard of play in the league Nigeria ought to start calling the shots at all levels in the continent.  He, however, expressed confidence in the quality of players at the disposal of both teams, insisting that laurels can come on a silver platter, especially with maximum support from their state governments and club management.

    “The league was highly competitive this season and both teams cannot be said to be pushovers, but they must avoid the usual pitfalls like poor preparation and travel arrangement among other things.  If they get the support I think they will do well,” he enthused.

    Sofoluwe, who is being courted by some clubs ahead of the next season, re-echoed the need for all departments of the league to improve so that whoever emerges champion can withstand the heat anywhere.

    “We must continuously improve the league in all aspects, standard of play, officiating, management in fact everything so that whoever wins the league at any point in time can truly beat his chest and be in a position to compete anywhere, but where a team emerges through sharp practice, such as poor officiating, it will tell along the line,” he said in a chat with SportingLife on Friday.

  • Ikhana: Enyimba ready for Pillars

    Ikhana: Enyimba ready for Pillars

    •Says his players will surprise Sai Masu Gida

    Enyimba’s head coach, Kadiri Ikhana has told SportingLife that the People’s Elephant’s players are ready for the final match of the season against Kano Pillars who just won the Premier League title for a third straight season.

    The Aba Millionaires need a win against Sai Masu Gida to be guaranteed a spot in next season’s CAF Champions League after their capitulation against Dolphins in the last game ensured that they surrendered the league title to Pillars before the final game of the season.

    Ikhana in a recent interview told SportingLife that he has had discussions with his players based on the draw  in Port Harcourt against Dolphins which put paid to their league ambitions and that he has urged the players to be very competitive against Pillars so that they are able to get the maximum points.

    He said returning to the CAF Champions League next season should be the main priority of the players and that getting that objective is a must to ensure  Enyimba are able to match the feat recording last year.

    “I have been doing a lot of talking to the players and they have been responding  to my clarion call that they should forget about our failure to win the league but they should instead concentrate on ensuring that we are second at the end of the season and also win the Federation Cup,” Ikhana told SportingLife.

    Enyimba are second on the league table with 61 points from 37 matches and a win over the reigning league champions would ensure the club matches last season’s position in the league. They later went on to beat Warri Wolves on penalties to claim the 2013 Federation Cup title. They are through to the final of the same competition this year and will face Dolphins on November 23 in Lagos.

  • Sheu Abdulahi donates N250, 000 to Pillars

    Sheu Abdulahi donates N250, 000 to Pillars

    •150 Champions T-shirts too

    Former Kano Pillars midfielder Sheu Abdullahi has donated N250,000 to his former teammates as part of his contribution to appreciate the team’s success this season.

    Kano Pillars won the league title for the third time on the trot with a game to be played against Enyimba at the Aba Township Stadium on Sunday.

    Abdulahi was part of the team that won the title for the Sai Masu Gida last season before he moved to Kuwaiti Premier League side Qadsia SC in a deal worth $480,000.

    He also appreciated the coaching crew led by coach Okey Emordi by giving each member of the technical crew N10, 000 each.

    The former Plateau United star also printed 150 T-shirts with the inscription THREE TIME CHAMPIONS for the players and  fans of the club.

    He congratulated the team for winning the title for the third time as he urged them to go to Aba and get victory against Enyimba.

    “I’m very happy that the team won the title again. It is a thing of joy to see your former team doing well. I want to congratulate the players, technical crew and board members of the team,” Abdullahi said.

  • Pillars are champions!

    Pillars are champions!

    Kano Pillars won the Nigeria Premier League for the third time in a row after beating Nembe City 4-0 at the Sani Abacha stadium.

    Pillars have an unassailable lead at the top following Dolphins 1-1 draw with Enyimba in Port Hacourt.

    The Champions put the pressure on the basement team but not untill the 23rd minute did they get a breakthrough.

    Gambo Mohammmed back in the team after a minor injury, took advantage of some slacking defending from Nembe City to head home a Promise James delivery.

    Seven minutes later another Promise James pin point delivery was half cleared by Chijioke Umeonaku dropping nicely for Azeez Shobowale who finishes to put the Champions two nil up.

    Nembe City managed only one shot on target before the half time whistle was sounded.

    Eight minutes after the restart Theophilus Allison wasted Nembe’s best chance to pull a goal back by failing to hit the net with goalkeeper Theophilus Affelokhai at his mercy.

    That loss came back to haunt them in the 63rd minute when Adamu Hassan scrambled home a third for Kano Pillars as Nembe fail to deal with a ball in their ball.

    Three minutes later Shobowale got his brace and his team fourth robbing goalkeeper Ifeanyi Agu before slamming the ball into the empty net.

    Kano Pillars stroke the ball around to run the clock down and secure all three points with four goals to their goal advantage.

  • NEMBE TO PLAY SPOILERS AT PILLARS

    NEMBE TO PLAY SPOILERS AT PILLARS

    Nembe City attacking midfielder, Emmanuel Egesi has said his side will certainly puncture Kano Pillars’ league title ambition.

    The bottom-placed side will be the guests of the Nigerian champions in Sunday’s Glo Premier League match day 37 encounter at the Kano Pillars Stadium in Sabongari, Kano.

    Egesi said though their fate has been somehow sealed in the lower division next season they are not ready to concede any defeat to any side in the remaining matches on the season’s calendar.

    “Pillars are in a pole position to win the league title once again and will stop at nothing to achieve their goal but we’re going to give them a run for the three points at stake on Sunday.

    “We’re praying for fair level ground from the officials for both sides as we’ll make Pillars sweat in the clash.

    “We’re down already but we’ve resolved that no team will ride on us to glory in the two remaining matches.

    “A win for Pillars against us will get them closer to the league title but they’ll not have any of the luxuries from us.

    “We want to end the season on a high and beating or derailing Pillars’ title ambition will be satisfactory and a record we’ll cherish for a long time to come.

    “We’ve trained specifically for Pillars and we’re determined not to come back empty handed from the encounter,” said Egesi to supersport.com.

    Nembe City still sit at the bottom of the 20-team elite league log on 28 points from a possible 108 at the conclusion of week 36 matches.

    The side’s last game of the season will be on home ground against Giwa FC on November 9 at the Krisdera Hotel Stadium, Omoku.

  • Sharks end Pillars’ 3-year jinx

    Sharks end Pillars’ 3-year jinx

     • Beat Sai Masu Gida 1-0 in Port Harcourt

    Sharks FC of Port Harcourt recorded its first win over Kano Pillars in three years after defeating the visitors 1-0 in the Week 32 Glo Premier League clash in Port-Harcourt on Sunday.

    Fortune Omoniwari scored the only goal that separated the two sides on the half hour mark, poking in a loose ball in the Pillars’ area after the visitors had failed to properly clear a corner kick.

    The visitors will have themselves to be blamed for the defeat and for leaving Port Harcourt empty handed despite the amount of chances they created.

    Omoniwari was used in place of the injured Ifeanyi Inyam and was one of the four changes Sharks made to the team that lost in midweek to Enyimba FC of Aba. Michael Ezekiel, Gabriel Olalekan and Thompson Stowe were the other three.

    The three years hoodoo hanging around Sharks was obvious in the opening stages as waves and waves of attack from the Champions locked them in their own half. Hassan Adamu had a chance on the fourth minute after being set up by Moses Ekpa but he fired wide.  Adamu then beat the Sharks goalkeeper Danladi Isah from a nicely weighted ball from the right but Gabriel Olalekan cleared from off the line. Eneji fired at Isah moments later but the goalkeeper parried then caught the ball at a second attempt.

    Having somehow weathered the pressure, Sharks began to create their own chances. Madu volleyed from outside the area after being set up by Stowe but Theophilus Afelokhai dived to the right, making a good save.

    The Blue Angels could have gotten their second goal when Odinga’s strike fired from 30 yards was handled by Zango Umar. The referee and his assistant saw it and a spot kick was awarded. Christian Pyagbara stepped up but his effort hit the crossbar with Afelokhai beaten.

    Pillars attempted to respond but an alert Jamiu Alimi blocked Hassan Adamu’s strike inside the area. Sharks went close at the other end Obomate firing wide from a Sharks counter.

    Both teams began the second half from where they ended the first. Omoniwari squared for Pyagbara but the striker blasted wide. Abdul Haruna, a second half substitute sent a free kick narrowly wide.

    Afelokhai pushed away Madu Chiamaka’s volley while Tammy Tams fired wide after being set up by Obomate. There were more chances created by both sides but the strikers were having an off day, none being able to convert.

  • Pillars match winner excites Shobowale

    Pillars match winner excites Shobowale

    Azeez Shobowale has said he is delighted to be the match winner for Kano Pillars in a 3-2 win over Crown FC during the Week 31 league game.

    The former 3SC forward told AfricanFootball.com that he was so happy that his goal gave champions Pillars the victory that keeps them on top of the league table with seven rounds of matches to be played.

    “I am happy with my goal, it was the match winner for us and that is why I am so excited about it. It won the game for us and puts us on top of the table,” Shobowale told AfricanFootball.com.

    He was also the man of the match when Pillars beat Lobi Stars 3-1. He has scored three goals this season.