Kano Pillars Football Club has moved to the Quarter finals of  2023/24 Federation Cup after defeating Katsina United counterparts by 8-7 goals via penalty shootout after a fierce encounter held at New Jos International Stadium the Plateau state capital.

 According to Media Officer, Sharif Zahraddeen Usman kofar Nassarawa, the round 16 match saw Kano Pillars’s goal machine Mustapha Ibrahim Yuga wearing number 19 shirt netting an early goal just after eight minutes of play.

The goal stood up to the end of the first half of the cracker although frantic efforts were made to increase or even scores.

However, Katsina United levelled scores in the 65th minutes of the duel and all effort by Sai Masu Gida to increase the tally, it did not materialize due to poor finishing by the team’s attackers.

Thus, the engagement ended one all draw at the completion of ninety minutes regulation, the centre Referee called for penalty kicks. Which Sai Masu Gida scaled through by thrashing their opponents 8 goals to 7

However, the resilience shown by  Sai Masu Gida goalkeeper Mohammad Galadima helped the Kano darling team to cross the hurdle.

Commenting on that shortly after the encounter , the Pillars FC Acting Technical Adviser, Ahmed Garba Yaro Yaro saluted the doggedness and fighting spirit of his Boys in winning the match.

 In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Club,  Alh Babangida Umar Little along with other distinguished Board members, commended the players for making Kano proud and urged them to sustain the zeal to enable the Club emerge winners of the  2024 edition of President Federation Cup.

 Alh Babangida Umar Little used the medium to praise  Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Commissioner of Sports, Hon Mustapha Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for their continuous support to the lads which encouraged them in Winning their matches.

With the victory, Kano Pillars fc will now face  Sunshine Stars of Akure in their next match in the event to determine who zoom to the last four.

By Sani Yusif

I was at the production unit of the Triumph Publishing Company, Kano but my keen interest in sports journalism made me to be sports writer and maintained a sports column called (Sports Eye) after my mentor Sani Muhammad Zaria transferred his service to New Nigeria newspapers in Kaduna. And when the government closed the Triumph in 2012, I was transfered to lectured DTP in the Department of Printing Technology of Kano State Polytechnic. And now that I retired, i used to visit the institution weekends for part-time lecturing.