Prior to the appointment of Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso as the new commissioner of youth and sports by His Excellency the governor of Kano state, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Kano Pillars Football Club Management Committee, its Technical Committee and the entire players of the team were given a three match ultimatum to wake up and make the team regain its previous form and return it to its winning streak.
The ultimatum was given by the then acting State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Hamza Kachako following the team’s poor form and performance in the ongoing 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
But what was not clear then from the commissioner’s ultimatum is what is going to happen to the management, coaches or the team itself, if they fail to perform as expected.
The Hon. Commissioner Katcako emphasized that the unwavering commitment of the state government for supporting Kano Pillars with financial and moral assistance in their quest for success must not be allowed to drain.
He then made it clear that a decisive action must be taken to get the team back to winning habits, stating that the government would not allow or watch the much-beloved Kano Pillars to crumble especially in this time when the league is few matches to end.
” The management and technical crew are therefore directed to turn things around in the next three games and produce good results,” he stated.
Hon Kachako recalled that the state’s Ministry of Youths and Sports had allocated and released all the necessary and needed funds for Kano Pillars FC to compete favorably in the NPFL, but wondered why things were going that bad.
This support according to Hon. Katcako, comes with the approval of the state sports loving governor, His Excellency Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, who openly shows his demonstration and commitment to the advancement of not only Kano Pillars but sports generally in Kano state.
And bookmakers observed that in its short history, Kano Pillars had never lost two home matches in a season, as they lost to Shooting Stars 1-2 and also slumped to a 0-1 loss to Abia Warriors from Aba at home this season.
But under the three match ultimatum period, Kano Pillars Football Club had thrashed Gombe United by 4 goals to nothing in one of their matches at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
The team was also humiliated by Akwa United Football Club of Uyo with a 3 goals defeat last week in Uyo.
What is not known was if the Kano side playing at their familiar turf this weekend will disunite the visiting Doma United Football Club of Gombe in yet another NPFL encounter to escape the government’s anger.
But many were surprised with Commissioner Katcako outpouring because everybody within the soccer cycle of the state knew why and where the problems of the team were coming from.
This is because not long ago, Abdu Maikaba, the Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars FC made some powerful revelations on the true situation and happening about the team when he was asked to talk in a meeting organized by the Kano Pillars Supporters club at the Kano State Press Center.
To most of us, the three match ultimatum was not the answer or could not produce the needed pills that will cure or solve the team’s problems.
We all thought Hon. Commissioner Katcako will take the bull by the horns and do the right thing because Coach Maikaba has already pointed out where the problems are.
For sure it was the same problem that made Kano Pillars FC to only two matches from out of its last eleven league matches.
As I and many others stated in various discussions, this is the worst league season for Kano Pillars Football Club in the recent football seasons.
That was why all the soccer stakeholders in Kano state wanted or prepared the commissioner to form a committee that will deeply and thoroughly investigate all the allegations coach Maikaba made during Kano Pillars Supporters Club meeting at the NUJ Press Center, Kano.
Coach Maikaba pointed out the misunderstanding between the ministry and Kano Pillars chairman as one factor bedeviling their game plans.
I was happy that all those things Coach Maikaba voiced out were in the presence of Malam Sani Shehu Minjibir, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Babangida Tukur, Abba Galadima, Jambul all past chairmen of the club.
The coach wondered how his team could triumph over their matches with two different orders. “For instance, if the ministry says this, the chairman of the team will say that”, he added.
Another factor thwarting their game plans and win matches is the animosity between Kano Pillars chairman and his Management Committee. “That is also affecting our game plans”, coach Maikaba explained.
The Kano Pillars Technical Adviser also made mention of the late or delayed in the release of funds for their away matches.
With all these and many other outbursts from coach Maikaba, we all did not expect a three match ultimatum from the commissioner, but something that will find out and expose all the ills affecting the smooth running of the team.
Honestly, to me and many others, a powerful committee is needed to thoroughly go over Coach Maikaba’s assertions and hear from all those he mentioned to ascertain the reality of the matter.
The committee will be made by people of impeccable character that cannot be intimidated or easily pocketed so that they can bring out all that were hidden to the general public.
It is a fact that all is not well with the team and until all the inadequacies surrounding the team are done away with I doubt if peace will return to the team.
What we are seeing now is what we call a temporary succor which doesn’t normally last long.
But if a committee is to be instituted solely for that, whatever or whoever is behind the trouble that is clogging the wheel of Kano Pillars Football Club progress will be exposed and finally brought to shame.
For me, it is not late, the new commissioner, Hon. Mustapha Kwankwaso may set up a committee to find out all the evils that impede the club’s progress.
Commissioner Kwankwaso should also set up another committee to ascertain the chairman of the Kano Pillars Football Club is at logger-head with his management committee.
The trend is not common to the club as this is the first time the rift between the chairman and his committee was widely seen as the former commissioner admitted it occurrence and his ministry’s effort in dousing it.
And the new commissioner must make sure that whoever is found wanting is sanctioned.
It is only this can stop it reoccurrence.