While many Nigerian Premier Football League teams are busy announcing their new coaches or Technical Advisers, new players, and some have already resumed serious training in preparation for the 2025/26 season, Kano Pillars Football Club, another NPFL team, has yet to unwrap any, let alone resume training.
This may possibly be the key reason why stakeholders in Kano and many soccer supporters particularly those of Kano Pillars FC nicknamed Sai Masu Gida are anxious and disturbed about the inability of the management of the team to perform just like what their contemporaries are doing in other teams.
That explained why most of the Kano Pillars Football Club fans are questioning why the management is yet to announce the successor of Coach Usman Abdallah’s after his unceremonious departure from his TA position a few weeks ago.
Abdallah who had earlier served a two-month suspension mid-way into the last league’s campaign, has officially stepped down from his Technical Adviser role citing personal reasons without any clarification.
He was only reportedly to have informed the Kano Pillars management that a significant opportunity had emerged, which he felt could not be balanced alongside his current TA role.
“After careful discussions, we both agreed it was best for the club’s future that I step aside, ” Abdallah explained.
Abdallah who was appointed few weeks before the commencement of the 2024/2025 NPFL season, he led the Sai Masu Gida to a respectable 9th-place finish, collecting 53 points from 38 matches—an improvement of six points from the previous season.
It was obvious that his leadership brought a measure of stability and competitiveness to the team, despite the challenges faced during the campaign.
His exit left the Kano Pillars supporters into curious as to why the new technical adviser of the squad is yet to emerge. They are craving for the coach who will manage the team for the upcoming football season.
They are also wondering what is taking the Ali Nayara Mai Samba so long to choose Abdallah’s replacement weeks after his untimely exodus.
They warned that it would be damaging for the team to sign players before the appointment of a new Technical Adviser because according to them, the appointment of a TA came before the recruitment of players.
The supporters believed that if management recruits players before the appointment of TA, they will face challenges in the short and long term, especially if the squad is not performing to everyone’s expectations during the season.
If that happened (God forbid), the Technical Adviser might simply absolve himself of any culpability and shift the blame to the management because he used the set of players the management offered to him rather than the players he desired that would give him the result.
That is why both the stakeholders and some Kano Pillars fans are against recruiting players by the management. To avoid excuses, they want the new TA to bring in those he want to work with.
To be honest, I am aware of and comprehend the harmful signal that both sports stakeholders and Kano Pillars FC fans are sending to Kano Pillars management by delaying the appointment of Usman Abdallah’s successor.
I, too, am perplexed as to why Kano Pillars’ management is stalling this long, given that it should have been something that should have been completed as soon as the previous TA left.
It should not be delayed due to its relevance and importance as a squad like Kano Pillars should not have lasted this long without a qualified TA at the helm.
It is a fact that many Premier League teams have since resumed camp and begun rigorous training in preparation for the upcoming season; I see no reason why Kano Pillars will be slow to follow suit.
El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club of Borno had recently announced their technical team as the Maiduguri-based club when they appointed Mohammed Kalli Kachalla as the new chief coach.
The club had also confirmed Ibrahim Imam and Ishaq Hussaini Goni as assistant coaches, with Hussaini Yusuf and Usman Mohammed serving as goalkeeping coaches.
But I was told that Kano Pillars are said to be making moves to secure the services of coach Stanley Eguma. But the coach is said to be currently in talks with Enyimba over a potential contract extension.
Eguma, who joined the Aba giants midway through last season after the dismissal of Yemi Olanrewaju, remains undecided about his future.
Similarly, there are reports that the Sai Masu Gida are also in discussions with Gbenga Ogunbote, coach Babaganari, and a number of other coaches.
However, it is unknown what is causing the engagement of the new TA of the team to be delayed this long.
To help the team out of this undecided situation,, here is a thorough and expertly organized suggested plan for Kano Pillars FC from now until the 2025–2026 NPFL season begins on August 22, 2025.
Ideal Profile of the New Technical Adviser (TA):
Kano Pillars like any other team need well exposed and experience person to heads its technical crew. At least that person should have 5–10 years coaching stint in the NPFL or a top African league if possible.
Track Record:
That person must have a proven success in club rebuilding, mid-table to top-tier transition, youth integration and must have CAF A License / UEFA B (minimum).
Qualities:
The man that will serve as Kano Pillars Head Coach must have the following qualities.
Player development focus; Tactical discipline (defensive solidity + offensive transition); Strong leadership and media communication skills and Collaborative tendencies with management, fans, and state officials.
Recommended Player Recruitment Strategy:
Kano Pillars should forget old ways of players’ recruitment but embraced the new and widely accepted method. Thus:-
1. Short-Term Focus (2025/26):
The team should go for blend of experienced NPFL players and emerging talents
2. Long-Term Focus:
Home grown talent development via grassroots scouting and Kano FA partnership
Key Positions to Strengthen:
Kano Pillars should put more emphasis on the following:
1. Central Defense (organizer and aerial dominant).
2. Holding Midfielder (ball winner/distributor).
3. Creative Attacking Midfielder (playmaker).
4. Proven NPFL Striker (15+ goal capability).
5. Player recruitment should strictly follow the new TA’s technical vision.
Professional Roles & Responsibilities of new TA:
The new Technical Adviser (New Head Coach) should be:
1. Lead all technical and tactical decisions.
2. Conduct player scouting and approvals.
3. Design training modules and match strategies.
4. Maintain discipline, physical fitness, and injury control.
5. Regularly brief management with progress reports.
Club Management Board:
1. Henceforth, the club managers should ensure timely appointment of TA and also give full backing to the TA.
2. The management should provide logistics (salaries, training kits, facilities, allowances).
3. They should facilitate players’ welfare, insurance, and contracts.
4. Supervise pre-season activities and media coverage.
5. Set clear Kano Pillars performance benchmarks for staff and TA.
Kano State Government:
The Kano State Government should, among other things:
1. Ensure that the funds allotted are released on time.
2. Upgrade the club transportation and amenities at Sani Abacha Stadium.
3. Establish a sports oversight committee to ensure openness. 4. Organize neighborhood outreach initiatives to rally support from young people. 5. Get the club sponsorships and business alliances.
Fans & Supporters
1. The supporters of the team ought to unite under a single Supporters Assembly.
2. During home games, they ought to encourage order and discipline in the stadium.
3. Promote the club’s merchandise by serving as brand ambassadors.
4. Give players constructive criticism while avoiding negative public reaction.
Timeline of Activities (June – August 2025): Date and Activity:
i) 28th June – 3rd July 2025 Final shortlisting and appointment of a new Technical Adviser/Head Coach.
ii) 4th – 10th July 2025 Technical Adviser begins work – assesses previous squad, sets preseason goals.
iii) 11th – 20th July 2025 Player screening and trials begin (open & invited) under new TA supervision.
iv) 21st – 25th July 2025 Final player signings, contract renewals, and list submission to NPFL board.
v) 26th July – 10th August 2025 Full pre-season training camp (Fitness, tactics, friendlies).
vi) 11th – 15th August 2025 Participation in at least 2 top-level friendly matches to assess team strength.
vii) 16th – 20th August 2025 Final squad registration, branding, and media unveiling.
viii) 21st August 2025 Arrival in match city for opening match.
ix) 22nd August 2025 Start of NPFL 2025/2026 Season.
Finally, in my opinion and that of many others, delays in hiring or appointing a Technical Advisor and organizing preseason activities run the risk of causing chaos for the team before the new season begins,.
Given that Kano Pillars FC’s main opponents in other places have already made their camp comeback, the team cannot afford to be idle any longer.
Most of us believe that the only way out is for the management to quickly designate a new TA by the first week of July 2025 and allow him to assemble the players he desires to work with.