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Tag: kano pillars

  • 18-year-old Abdullahi nets 5 goals as Kano Pillars thrash Gombe United 5-2

    18-year-old Abdullahi nets 5 goals as Kano Pillars thrash Gombe United 5-2

    Kano Pillars’ winger, Yusuf Abdullahi, on Sunday scored five goals to help his team secure maximum points away to Gombe United in a Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) match.

    The Match Day 11 fixture of the NPFL 2023/2024 season, which was played at Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe, saw Kano Pillars thrashing the home team 5-2, with 18-year-old Abdullahi scoring all the five goals for the visitors.

    In a post-match conference, Abdullahi Maikaba, the Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars described the result of the match as “exciting and very nice.”

    Maikaba said he was particularly happy that one of his young players scored all five goals after several attempts at scoring in previous matches.

    “My happiness is that one of the brilliant talents that is coming up in Nigeria has scored all the five goals. It is a wonderful day for Kano pillars, me and my team,” he said.

    While commending Abdullahi, Maikaba said the player had been making series of attempts to net his first goal for the club but he had been losing goals-scoring opportunities from the beginning of the season till today.

    “I have been telling him that first goal is the key. If he can get his first goal, it will motivate him to score more.

    “I am happy that his first goal geared him up to get four more in just one match,” Maikaba said.

    He said Yusuf, with the kind of talent and skills he possessed, could represent Nigeria at the junior levels and make the country proud just the way he had been impressive for Kano Pillars.

    Speaking in an interview, Abdullahi described his five goals against Gombe United as a milestone in his football career and a moment he would cherish for a long time to come.

    He said it was his first time scoring in the NPFL and he was happy he got five at once.

    “This is the first time I am playing in the NPFL and my joy is immeasurable and I owe all to God because victory is from God,” Abdullahi said.

    Asked about a call-up to any of the national junior teams, he said he would gladly represent the country at any junior level since he is 18 years.

    Coach of Gombe United, Mohammed Babaganaru, turned down a request for interview with journalists, saying “what do you want me to say, I should tell you what now?” he asked.

    Gombe United’s goals came in the 17th and 45th minutes of the game through Sadiq Shuaibu and Ahmed Jimoh respectively.

    While Kano Pillars’ Abdullahi scored in the 10th, 14th, 33th, 45th and 60th minutes of the match.

    Abdullahi would have made it six in the game but was denied by the woodwork in the 52nd minute of the game.

    At the end of the game, fans of Gombe United applauded Abdullahi, while some fans rushed to take photograph with the young player.

  • Ahmed Musa set for NPFL return

    Ahmed Musa set for NPFL return

    Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa has once again expressed his desire to play for a Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL years after featuring in the league.

    Recall that Musa broke many records playing for Kano Pillars many years back.

    The 31-year-old was top scorer in the NPFL in the 2009/10 season.

    The winger linked up with Eredivisie outfit, VVV Venlo the following season.

    Musa returned to Pillars for a brief stint in 2021.

    The former Leicester City player hinted that he is keen to play in the NPFL once again.

    “I will always talk about the Nigerian league because I was once their product. And that placed me where I am today and till tomorrow, anytime I am going to stop football, I am going to come to Nigeria again, and play in the Nigerian League,” Musa stated on X (former Twitter space).

    “But this time, I am going to stay for a long time and play. To show you the love I have for the Nigerian League.”

  • Kano Pillars unveil Maikaba as new coach

    Kano Pillars unveil Maikaba as new coach

    Kano Pillars Football Club have unveiled Abdullahi Maikaba as their new coach for the next year.

    Speaking at the event on Monday in Kano, Babangida Little, the chairman of the club, promised the coach a favourable working environment.

    “The unveiling is like a ritual for us. Maikaba is one of our own and we must give him the respect,” he said.

    The chairman expressed optimism in the ability of the club’s new coach to deliver on the mandate given to him.

    Little said the move was in line with the team’s preparations towards a successful outing in the 2023/2024 season.

    He assured the people of the state and the club’s teeming supporters that the club would aim for laurels in the new season.

    Earlier, the Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, assured the coach of the support of the state government.

    He also restated the administration’s commitment to sports development.

    Responding, Maikaba said he was honoured to be appointed as coach for the club.

    The former Technical Adviser at Rangers International and Akwa United expressed delight at joining the club, which he described as big and ambitious.

    “I will do my best to return the club to winning ways if given the support by the government,” he said.

    Maikaba commended the club management for finding him worthy of the job and promised to justify the confidence reposed in him.

  • NNL Super 8: Heartland FC lift NNL trophy after beating Kano Pillars

    NNL Super 8: Heartland FC lift NNL trophy after beating Kano Pillars

    Heartland Football Club of Owerri on Friday in Asaba, defeated Kano Pillars FC 2-0 in the final of the Nigeria National League (NNL)  Super 8 championship to lift the trophy.

    The match was played at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

    Pillars dominated play in the first half but were denied by the brilliant performance of Heartland’s goalkeeper, Chisom Chiaha.

    Upon resumption of the second half, Heartland took the game to their opponents, with the attacking pair of Fabian Omaka and Francis Erican.

    The pressure finally paid off in the 21st minute when Erican scored the first goal of the match in the 34th minute through a counter attack.

    Speaking with newsmen after the match, Pillars’ Coach, Evans Ogenyi commended his players for putting up a good fight.

    “We played very well, especially in the first half. However, in the second half, we faltered and this is as a result of fatigue.

    “We made few mistakes and that costs us the two goals that we conceded.

    “But in all, I must say it was a good game and I am proud of my players.

    “The most important thing is that we have been able to fulfil the mandate given to us by the management to return to the  NPFL, “he said.

    Christian Obi, Coach of Heartland FC who could not hide his joy, thanked the almighty God for the victory.

    “I thank God for this victory, and I am equally pleased with the efforts the players put into this game.

    “In all, I say glory be to God for this victory. He did it for us”, Obi said.

  • NNL Super 8: Kano Pillars face EFCC as battle for promotion to NPFL begins today

    NNL Super 8: Kano Pillars face EFCC as battle for promotion to NPFL begins today

    The battle to secure promotion to the Nigeria professional football League (NPFL) will begin today as eight teams will compete in the Nigeria National League Super Eight playoffs in Asaba Delta state.

    Kano Pillars will battle EFCC in the opening match of the Nigeria National League Super Eight playoffs on Sunday (today).

    The match is billed for 9am at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

    In another match in the Northern Conference group, DMD of Borno will take on Katsina United at 11am.

    In the Southern Conference, FC One Rocket will begin their campaign against Sporting Lagos at 2pm, while Abeokuta Stormers will face Heartland at 4pm.

    Two teams will qualify from each group to the Nigeria Premier League next season.

  • BREAKING: Former Super Eagles striker, Musa is dead

    BREAKING: Former Super Eagles striker, Musa is dead

    Former Super Eagles striker Bello Musa Kofarmata is dead, aged 34 years.

    According to reports, Kofarmata died on Tuesday, November 1, in his birthplace of Kano after a brief illness.

    The deceased will be buried later today (Wednesday) in accordance with Islamic customs.

    Kofarmata began playing football in 2007 with Kano’s Buffalo F.C. He joined Kano Pillars in the same year. He left Kano Pillars in 2010 to join Heartland FC of Owerri, then switched to Elkanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in 2012. He then returned to Kano Pillars.

    He sealed a deal with IK Start of Norway, following a spate of trials with the team. With Kano Pillars, he won the Nigerian Premier League for 2007-08 and was with 11 goals the top goalscorer.

    In August 2008, Kofarmata was on a trial at Austria’s LASK and played one friendly game. The forward returned from Europe to Pillars at the start of the 2008 season. He joined Heartland in January 2010 for a fee of N5 million. After two and half years, he left Heartland and signed with his lifelong club, Kano Pillars.

  • Ciroman Yola Picks Up NFF Presidential Election Form

    Ciroman Yola Picks Up NFF Presidential Election Form

    Well-known sports administrator Abba Abdullahi Yola (Ciroman Yola) has officially thrown his hat into the race for the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
    He beat the deadline for the purchase of the form by picking it up for the sum of 400,000 Naira as set by the electoral committee.
    According to yola, his decision to contest for the position is borne out of the need to effect a positive change in the governance of football in Nigeria.

    “The call to get involved and change things informed my decision to contest for the president of the NFF. If one wants to make a change then you have to be involved in the process”, he said shortly after picking up his form”

    He is recognized for leading Kano Pillars to back-to-back league titles when he was chairman of the team, he also supervised the construction of the present head office of the NFF, when he served in the presidential task force under the leadership of Patrick Ekeji.
    His last major involvement in the reformation of Nigerian football was his role in the NFF Reforms Committee. He headed the governance structure subcommittee.
  • NPFL: Kano pillars fans attack Nasarawa united players, vandalize team bus

    NPFL: Kano pillars fans attack Nasarawa united players, vandalize team bus

    Kano Pillars fans invaded the pitch in the 82nd minute of their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in matchday 23 fixture against Katsina United at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

    The irate fans damaged the visiting team’s bus and carted away valuables on Saturday.

    The game was the first at the Sani Abacha Stadium in over two years following Kano Pillars’ banishment by League Management Company (LMC) over unruly behaviour from their fans.

    Meanwhile fans trooped into the stadium in their numbers to watch the team play their first home game in two years before situation got out of hands.

    However, things turned sour in the 82nd minute as the game was still goalless with few minutes to the end of the match.

    Findings show that the fans became very angry with the result of the game and chose to encroach the pitch harassing players of the visiting team who scampered for safety as the game was abandoned.

    Not satisfied, they proceeded to the car park where the visiting team bus was parked and vandalized the bus – destroying the windshield.

    Reacting to the incident, Katsina United Media Officer, Nasir Gide, lamented the rate of destruction meted out to the team.

    “What happened in Kano is really worrisome. The game was going smoothly, both sides were playing well and the officials were really competent but in the 82nd minute, some irate fans invaded the pitch and started attacking some of our players but we thank God nothing happened to them,” Gide lamented.

  • NPFL: Late strike throws Heartland FC into relegation zone

    NPFL: Late strike throws Heartland FC into relegation zone

    Heartland FC of Owerri faced another disappointing outing at the Dan Anyiam stadium Owerri as they conceded a 0-1 home defeat against Kano Pillars, on Saturday.

    This was on match day 9 of the ongoing Nigerian Professional Football League.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Daniel’s 92nd minute strike was all it took to separate the two sides,

    This is the second consecutive home defeat for Heartland FC, coming after a o-3 loss against Enugu Rangers and the fourth consecutive league defeat.

    With the loss, the Pillars now occupy the 6th position with 13 points, while Heartland FC are on the 19th position with just 7 points.

    Heartland will now look for redemption when they face 3SC in their next fixture.

  • Why I left Kano Pillars for Turkey – Ahmed Musa

    Why I left Kano Pillars for Turkey – Ahmed Musa

    Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has said he signed for Fatih Karagumruk on a permanent deal because of their philosophy and ambition.

    Musa on Thursday, completed a free transfer to the Istanbul club, signing a two-year contract with the option of an additional year.

    The move ended his brief stay in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), where he penned a short-term deal.

    Musa has now spoken out after finalizing the transfer.

    “I was very impressed with the team’s philosophy, style of play and it’s clearly an ambitious club.

    “I feel wanted and that’s what made all the difference. I want to repay that faith. I can’t wait to link up with my teammates and help the club achieve their ambitions,” Musa BBC Sport Africa.

    Karagumruk were promoted to the Turkish top-flight in the 2019/2020 campaign, ending a 35-year wait for a return to the Super Lig.