For sure, when Ali Nayara nicknamed Mai Samba, chairman of the Board of Kano Pillars Football Club, decided to arrange a football tournament to commemorate Governor Abba’s two-year anniversary, he probably did not estimated the scale of what he was going to come up with.
Although the idea behind the event was merely a novelty matches for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s two years in office, but the outcome was overwhelming and beyond Mai Samba and his team’s comprehension or control because the competition was too complex and large for their mental or emotional capabilities.
The first the success of Ali Nayara’s soccer festival is a reflection of Governor Abba’s style of leadership in his determination to turn things around in line with the aspirations of the people of Kano State. Mai Samba’s admiration for the Governor’s efforts in sports development over the last two years prompted him to congratulate the governor with a football competition.
Beyond all of this, however, Mai Samba’s soccer festival for Governor Abba featured football players and rowing talents who delighted Kano municipality and the surrounding areas for days, and everyone wanted the governor to take notice so that they could be assisted in ways that would benefit themselves, their families, and the state.
This is because the hundreds of thousands of people who attended Governor Abba’s mini-festival could easily be compared to one of Kano Pillars’ most important Premier League matches, which is why Mai Samba and his organizing committee were taken aback by the crowds and people trafficking that occurred over the course of the one-month event.
In all, 28 teams participated, while leading Kwankwasiyya politicians in Kano, sports technocrats, business moguls and the local press never missed the history which Ali Nayara, (Mai Samba) was making.
No doubt Mai Samba and his team were pleased with the governor’s significant achievements documented during the period under review as a result of his consistent work day in and day out.
The finals of the Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf football tournament was decided penultimate Sunday at the Kurna Babban Layi Primary School football field despite a cloudy evening with the possibility of rain.
Even if Mai Samba did not say anything, he was undoubtedly impressed by the number of spectators who flocked to the location every blessed day until the event’s conclusion, which he was thought to have organized solely to honor Governor Abba’s achievements as governor of Kano state with a highly technical and entertaining football tournament.
To ensure the competition’s success, Mai Samba organized it during the off-season, when players and clubs from all leagues and other competitions are on hold or on vacation, and he made sure that it was not for registered football teams, but for community-organized football teams from within the municipality and its neighboring areas to commemorate the governor’s 730-day tenure as Kano’s top citizen.
That decision made the competition the talk of the town, attracting a large audience of supporters from the first to the last day thanks to the presence of several big name players and high-quality officiating. Fortunately, no unpleasant or sad events occurred until the final day.
That is why many people applauded Mai Samba for doing a fantastic job, despite the enormous number of supporters and the little number of security officials present at the competition venue, but there was no tragic story that follow.
In fact, Mai Samba was delighted to see a large crowd lining up at the arena’s gate as early as 2 p.m. to grab a seat for the thrilling third-place and final match of the Nayara Soccer Peace Cup 2025.
Those interested in witnessing the third-place game arrived early, and they were impressed and excited by the match between Miltara Boys and Kurna A, which Miltara Boys won by one goal to win third in the league.
And by 4 p.m., the venue was packed with thousands of soccer fans, the largest crowd since the competition began and the final match between Kurna C and Brigade followed immediately after the third place match, with Kurna C triumphing by 2-1.
According to Mai Samba, the competition was put in place or organized to honor Governor Abba for his love, care, and dedication to sports development in the state throughout the time period under consideration.
The Kano Pillars chairman went on to say that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s services to Kano State’s sports development are appreciated and respectable.
“His special focus and interest on Kano Pillars Football Club is commendable and that is why we at Kano Pillars will never forget all he has been doing to the team,” he added.
Mai Samba also thanked Governor Yusuf for recently reorganized the club’s board, naming me as chairman, 17 others as board members, and former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa as Pillars General Manager.
Under Governor Abba, Mai Samba noted that the quick payment of Kano Pillars players’ allowances, welfare enhancements, and complete logistical assistance have turned around the club’s crisis from previous administrations.
Mai Samba also told this website that during his first year in office, the governor ensured that Kano Pillars returned to the Nigeria Premier League following demotion by qualifying for the Super Eight competition and regained top-tier status.
Mai Samba also hinted at another achievement for the state with Governor Yusuf’s support: the state finished third at the 2nd National Para Games in Abuja, with 15 gold, 12 silver, and 17 bronze medals.
Mai Samba reported that Team Kano won several medals in the 6th and 7th National Youth Games (Asaba), including 5 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals in 2024, as well as outstanding performances in previous years.
He further added that Governor Abba distributed football kits to 600 clubs in all 44 LGAs, hence increasing grassroots participation and providing access to basic athletic equipment.
Mai Samba was also pleased with the governor’s intention to renovate the Kano Sports Institute (now renamed in remembrance of the athletes killed in a sad accident) and give free housing and meals for students.
Mai Samba also recalled the governor’s passion for sports when he lunched events like the Citizen Voice Cup and Unity Games to promote young debate, peace-building, and community integration. These included football, marathons, table tennis, and snooker, with competitors receiving cash prizes and medals.
According to Ali Nayara Mai Samba, Governor Abba’s youth-friendly policies are commendable in light of the selection of Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as Youth & Sports Commissioner and many others in his administration, which was highly lauded as a visionary decision for youth involvement.
Commentators have called Governor Abba’a’s sports policy as among the most youth-friendly in Nigeria, with an emphasis on empowerment, job development, and unification via sport.
All of these and other signs prompted Mai Samba to arrange a 28-team competition to celebrate the governor’s amazing and praiseworthy successes.
Kurna A, Hotoro, Gwale, Gwammaja, Kawo, Kwankwaso, Miltara, Sabon Gari, Goron Dutse, and Bakin Kasuwa were among the teams competing in the month-long competition.
Other teams include Tsakuwa, Kurna C, Kofar Ruwa, Kofar Mata, K/Wai-Dwn, Bichi, Fagge, K/Nasarawa, Dorayi, and Rijiyar Lemo. B.
The remaining teams are Alfindiki, Dala, Yakasai, Brighet, Gwammaja.B, Rijiyar Lemo.A, Bachirawa, and Kurna. B.
At the end of the final match, His Excellency, Governor of Kano State, Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was represented by the number one sports administrator in the state in person of Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, commissioner of youth and sports, received a special award for his outstanding efforts in promoting peace, combating thuggery and phone snatching, fostering young unity, and supporting sports development throughout Kano State.
Hon. Mustapha Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Kano State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, was also recognized for his significant contributions to youth empowerment and grassroots sports development throughout the state.
Muhammad Sani Danja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Sports, was also honored with the Youth Development and Welfare Award for his unwavering support for the youth.
Other winners include Ogan Boye, chairman of Nasarawa Local Government, for providing good leadership for the community’s success in local government and developing Kwankwasiyya youth.
Suraj Imam, chairman of the Dala local government, was also recognized for his good leadership and contributions to the community.
Ahmed Musa (M.O.N), the newly appointed General Manager of the Kano Pillars Football Club, was also recognized with an award for his considerable contributions to community development and assistance in a variety of sectors, particularly sports.
Rabiu Ali Fagge, the Kano Pillars’ star player, was also named the most outstanding player in the Nayara Sallah Competition and acknowledged as one of the NPFL’s best performers nationwide.
Finally, Shehu Abdullahi received an award for instilling courage and hard work in young people.
Prizes were also handed to the competition’s outstanding players, with Auwal Ali Malan of Kurna A taking home the top goal scorer award after scoring six.
Naziru Auwalu of Kurna C won the tournament’s Best Player award, while Ladan Muhd of Tsakuwa won the tournament’s Best Young Player title.
Similarly, Muhd Ahmad of Miltara won the Best Goalkeeper award, and Fahad Usman of Brigade was named Fair Play Player of the Tournament.
Sani Zidan of Miltara was named the tournament’s Best Coach, while Brigade won the Best Team award and the Most discipline Team was Hotoro.
Mai Samba was also overjoyed with the presence of the Hon. Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Dr. Dahiru Hashim, Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change, and Ibrahim Ali Namadi, Commissioner of Transport, who were visibly pleased with the large number of supporters.
Others in attendance included Hon. Lawan Hussain Dala, Member Kano State House of Assembly, Dala Constituency, Alh. Kabir Dahiru Sule (A.D.S), Member Kano State House of Assembly, Tarauni Constituency, Sarki Aliyu Daneji, Member Kano State House of Assembly, Kano Municipal Constituency, and Hon. Suraj Ibrahim Imam, Dala local government chairman.
The remaining members are Hon. Abdurrahman Gobirawa, S.S.A Market, Hon. Jamilu Yamadawa, S.S.A Sport & Youth, Alhaji Nuhu Isa, Kano Pillars Marketing Manager, Alh. Bashir Adakawa, Kano Pillars Welfare, Abbati Sabo, Kano Pillars Secretary, and Hon. Kabiru Usman Baburawa.
The match was also attended by Isama’il Abba Tangalashi, Director Media Kano Pillars, Abubakar Isa Dan Dago, Director Media 2 Kano Pillars, Alh. Nasiru Bello Kwankwaso, Alh. Muhd Danjuma Gwarzo, Alh. Yusuf Nuhu Danladi (Andy Cole), and Alh. Lurwanu idris Malikawa Garu, all Kano Pillars FC Board Members.
Others who also graced the occasion include top sports journalists Ahmad A.A Chiko of Sports broadcaster Arewa Radio and Muzambil Kurnar Asabe, Sport Broadcaster ARTV and Muhasa Radio.
Speaking immediately after the event, the chairman of Kano Pillars Football Club, who organized the competition, praised Allah SWT for the competition’s amazing success from beginning to conclusion.
He told this website that he decided to honor Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s accomplishments because of the number and quality of development projects he brought to Kano state during his final two years in office.
He claims that Governor Abba has had a good impact on every facet of human endeavour in Kano State.
He prayed to Allah SWT to continue assisting and leading the governor against detractors and opponents of progress, so that he may continue to achieve well for the state.
Mai Samba then recognized and complimented everyone who contributed to the competition’s success, either directly or indirectly.
For sure nobody is doubting the governor’s good job for the state sports, but we would like to draw his attention to the poor condition of Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano Pillars Stadium, and other facilities such as Mahaha Sports Complex and Ado Bayero Square, which require complete rehabilitation to meet the demands of the time.
