My mentor, Malam Sani Muhammad Zaria, the former Sports Editor of the Triumph and New Nigeria Newspapers who was also the first President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria from the North once told me and I quote: “Even at gunpoint, a journalist is an individual who comes clean”.

And to accomplish that accomplishment is to constantly be and stay in reality. “That is the only way he or she can remain relevant in the society or wherever he or she finds himself,” He added.

Zaria’s words were consistently at the focal point of my heart, particularly when I needed to do any journalistic assignments.

Thus, while figuring what my subject of conversation will be this week on my sports column, a friend of mine who was likewise a former Media Officer of Kano Pillars FC and presently heading news and current affairs section of the biggest and largest Television Network in Africa, the NTA, Shehu Adamu mailed a material titled: Sports journalists versus Kano Pillars FC, matters arising to my email account.

The material was elegantly composed by a brother, Abdulgafar Oladimeji, the immediate previous secretary of Kano SWAN who I was told is now serving as a Media Officer of one of the National Football teams of this country.

It was a response to the Press Release by Kano Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and an exceptionally extensive one, whose space to occupy all of it is very limited and that made me to peruse carefully and capture what and where it heads.

He was remarking on the Kano SWAN proclamation over its awful terrible experience with Kano Pillars Technical Advisor, Abdul Maikaba after one of the Kano Pillars home matches.

Maikaba’s shortcoming as per my comprehension was his refusal to respond to an inquiry handled by the previous Media Official of Kano Pillars FC, veteran journalist, Lurwanu Idris Malikawa.

And that refusal to answer Malikawa’s question to my understanding irked Kano SWAN and which made them threaten to boycott all Kano Pillars activities.

I was surprised that Abdulgafar in his piece was faulting Malikawa for over shielding and protecting Kano Pillars from the risks and dangers of the pen pushers during his reign as the Media Officer Kano Pillars.

Truly, I don’t fault Malikawa for over safeguarding the team he was designated to act as its Media Officer since that is his job. Subsequently the obligation of any decent Media Officer is to better the image of his side and not vice-vaser. So to me, he did nicely and merited recognition and commendation.

Instead, I faulted the sports journalists that permitted themselves to be stashed and pocketed effectively by Malikawa. I faulted them for neglecting to do what their profession and the general public  expected to do.

As I cited Sani Zaria once more, “A writer is an individual who tells the truth even at gunpoint”. And that is why a journalist is referred to as a mirror of society.

The society, stakeholders and even the public authority depend vigorously on pen pushers to know the fact(s) of all that is happening or occurring among the general public or different spots in the state or the nation at large.

Not only that, that particular action of our pen-pushers was a betrayal of their employers’ trust, who entrusted them to scout for news and report back what they got for public consumption.

And it is a fact that where one neglects to do what is generally anticipated of him, that is to uncover disasters, fraud, theft and other vices in the general public, that is where he loses regard, respect, acclaim and many other indicators in the society.

Therefore, scheming with Malikawa to conceal every one of the wrongs by the previous administrators of Kano Pillars committed is reprehensible and indefensible.

So, Kano SWAN needs to switch gear and work as per the morals and rules of their noble profession. As far as I am concerned, that is the main way sports can be disinfected and shaped in the state.

And for the abusive words Coach Abdu Maikaba was alleged to have rained on Malikawa for just asking a simple question “why he changed his line up from that of the previous matches?”

Despite the fact that that was never a good and intelligent question, I see no justification for why Coach Abdu Maikaba would take himself so low and act that way.

Truly, Maikaba’s response was hostile and cruel. What’s more, as an exceptionally instructed individual, Maikaba ought to have acted somehow. Pouring oppressive and abusive words on journalists or any other stakeholder isn’t great and shouldn’t repeat itself.

More so, as I stated earlier, Malikawa’s question was never a wise and intelligent one.  This is because the coach knows and understands his players better than any onlooker or anyone, be it group authorities, supporters or sports journalists.

Malikawa served as Kano Pillars Media Officer for more than a decade. As a longest serving MA he has to realize that there are several reasons behind changing of team list. Coaches change their lists because of the fact that different matches require different approaches. It is not every match a player can play or can be good in.

While certain players are great in playing home matches others are phenomenal while playing in an away duel due to tension and pressure from home fans.

Moreover, a few players can get harmed or lose form and it is an obligation of each and every good coach to know this and impact a few changes quickly by tracking down replacement.

On the writer’s claimed that coach Maikaba is toeing the path of his predecessors like Salisu Yusuf, Ladan Bosso, Okey Emordi, Babaganaru during their heydays with the Kano darling side by preferring to work with Abuja or Lagos base journalists, thus, creating the feelings that SWAN Kano members were second class journalists, it is the Kano SWAN I blamed because had it being they reported all the evils Malikawa forestalled them from publishing, that can never have happened.

My brother Olademeji ought to ask that during our days no coach or club administrator can look down on us.

Sani Zaria, Richard Jedaeka, Mike Ndidi, Ado Salisu, Salisu Rabiu, Shehu Adamu, Lamara Garba Azare, Umoru Ibrahim and numerous others are alive to affirm. He can go and find out we didn’t have such a terrible and horrendous experience.

Why was that so? Because we didn’t allow anybody, even late Sani Muhamed Usman, a former Kano Pillars boss who was one of us, to look down on us talkless to put us in his pocket and dictate what we or  or not write.

I can say that before I left Triumph in the year 2012 to academia, we didn’t have that kind of experience at all. As a matter of fact, club administrators used to act and behave well whenever they are either in our midst or mindful of our presence since we don’t compromise our tasks or duty.

It’s not possible for anyone to prevent us from uncovering awful initiative or any trick which we realize will imperil sports and sporting activities.

The writer also castigated Kano FA for not helping the state government to unravel the lack of transparency in the activities in the club, describing the FA as suffering from one man show, under Sharu Rabiu Inuwa Ahlan.

How can one expect individuals who got the Kano FA positions in an incorrect manner to deliver something significant? You need to recall how they took themselves there.

Ahlan and Shehu Buhari conducted the worst Kano FA election within the sight of the whole Kano SWAN but they all kept mute.

They blocked every prospective contestant from contesting either as member or chairman and vice chairman and also handpicked their favorites as delegates. That is why as far as I am concerned, there were no FA Elections in Kano.

Maybe it was the same Malikawa who made the Kano SWAN to close their eyes and put their pens in their pockets and pretend not to see anything wrong with the election. I am waiting to hear the truth of the matter.

I really wonder why Abdulgafar  is now calling Kano FA a one man show, despite the fact that Malikawa is one of the FA members. You can’t expect any good result from excessive leaders who are more interested in power than action.

And for mentioning Ado Salisu’s name in over protecting sports administrators and technical crew and coaches by sports journalists, I asked, which Ado Salisu?

I remembered that Ado Salisu had been axed from Kano SWAN and its activities long ago. And Kano SWAN doesn’t call him to their meetings and any other activities. And all is because of some little misunderstanding between him and Malikawa.

In fact, Ado Salisu had told me that he had since stopped going to the stadium to watch Kano Pillar home and away matches.

On his prayer for Almighty God to grant comrade Zahradeen Saleh and his team the strength to take SWAN to the promised land, that will only have happened if they work according to the Oath they took before getting into office.

As SWAN is divided nationally, it is equally divided here in Kano. Until he opens his arms and embraces all and stops taking orders from anybody, I doubt if he can succeed.

Oladimeji then wants Kano SWAN to boycott all Kano Pillars Football Club activities, which he wanted to be full and not half. Which means Kano SWAN should have turned its back on Pillars and coach Maikaba because according to him boycotting Maikaba alone is inadequate.

He further stated that Kano Pillars FC has been taking SWAN members for a professional jolly ride and according to him, Malikawa was heavily guilty of shielding them from the ills of the pen hammer, which has been ongoing for years.

I don’t think boycotting Kano Pillars activities will save anybody or the situation at hand. I thank the Almighty Allah that the Kano state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has waded in. I was told a committee was set to resolve Maikaba and Kano SWAN. I commended Abbas Ibrahim’s NUJ for instituting a committee to settle Maikaba and Kano SWAN.

The former Kano SWAN secretary also lambasted Babangida Little, KPFC administration for lacking the professional respect or created a cordial working atmosphere for SWAN members and his administration from day one since he did not extend the fraternal hand of football friendship to SWAN.

I am miserable that the previous secretary is simply letting us know this now because it is something we should know since.

This is one of the risks of concealing significant information and no one will take any sports journalist or SWAN seriously in this regard since this isn’t the perfect opportunity.

On his call for a committee to be set up to investigate the matter and publish the report of the findings of the committee, Abdulgafar is ready to chair the committee, if given the task.

Abdulgafar want his about to form committee to look at happenings in Kano Pillars FC in the past, present and way forward, and recommend necessary measures to forestall reoccurrence to the state government, I don’t see that as necessary because Kano Pillars is a government owned club it is only when the government wants that such can happen.

More importantly, this request is not necessary because had it been they acted at the right time and exposed all evils perpetrated by present and former administrators of Kano Pillar, the story could be different.

“The committee should be mandated to look at Kano Pillars FC finances, recruitment of coaches and players, transfer deals, ticket sales, away matches, sponsorship and marketing deals.

 “We have Kano Pillars FC that does not know the difference between sponsorship, patronage and partnership,” Abdulgafar stated.

Haba Malam! How could any reasonable individual appoint you for the board to examine individuals you are battling? It is very much like giving a sharp blade to your most despised enemy who is following behind.

All these are not necessary now because Kano SWAN was silent when Little refused to unfold his actual deal with RAMBO.

Also, Kano SWAN is there when the present Kano Pillars FC is intensely obliged. I was dependably informed that its obligations are over N100 million. There is no way a club like Kano Pillars, playing in a Premier league will run this way. Kano SWAN must tell the government to come to the rescue of the team.

I know some time ago I requested Kano SWAN to pay a courtesy visit to the governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf and let him know all he has to be aware of Kano Pillars FC and Kano State Sports Commission and different issues that are impeding sports in Kano.

What’s more, is that until sports journalists bring themselves out of the pockets of the people who stashed them in their pockets, I doubt if such embarrassment will stop reoccurring.

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.

174 thoughts on “Between Kano SWAN and coach Maikaba”
  1. Hey there I am so thrilled I found your web site, I really found you by error, while I was browsing on Digg for something else, Anyways I am here noww and would just like to say many thanls for a marvelous post and a aall round entertaining blog (I also loce the
    theme/design), I don’t have timje to go through iit all at the moment
    but I have book-marked it annd also included your RSS feeds,so when I have time I will bee back to read more,
    Please do keep up the superb job. https://Www.Waste-ndc.pro/community/profile/tressa79906983/

  2. Having read this I beleved it was reazlly enlightening. I appreciate you speneing some time and effort to
    put this short article together. I once again findd myself personally spending a lot
    of time both reading and posting comments. But so
    what, it was still worthwhile! https://slotswinnerss.wordpress.com/

  3. Superb blog you have herfe but I was cirious if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics talked about in this article?
    I’d really like to be a ppart of community where I can get advice from other
    knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest.
    If yoou have any recommendations, please let mee know. Thanms a lot! https://casino-gamesss.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-different-games-at-online-casinos.html

  4. An impressive share! I havfe just forwarded
    this onto a coworker who had been doing a little research on this.
    And he actually ordeered me lunch simply becauwe I discovered it for him…

    lol. So allow me too reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this issue here on your site. https://caramel.la/therstagaing/kFPxJgYs0/the-evolution-of-gaming-skills

  5. Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest authoring
    on other websites? I have a blog based upon on the same subjects you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I
    know my viewers wiuld appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel freee to send me an e-mail. https://safe-gamblings.blogspot.com/2024/05/staying-safe-when-you-gamble-online.html

  6. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lott about this, lie you wrote the book in it or something.
    I think that you can do with some pics to drive the mdssage home a little
    bit, but other than that, this is excellent blog.
    An excellent read. I will definitely be back. http://links.musicnotch.com/dominiquecer

  7. hello there annd thank you ffor your info – I have definitely picked up something new from right here.
    I did however expertiswe several technical points using this site, as
    I experienced too reload the web site lots of times previous too I
    could get it to load properly. I had been wonxering if your hosting iss OK?
    Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect youur placement in google and could
    damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords.
    Anyway I am adding thijs RSS to my email and could look out for a
    lot more of your respective exciting content. Ensure that you update this again soon. http://www.superstitionism.com/forum/profile.php?id=1269564

  8. Hi there I am so happy I found your weblog, I really found you by error, while
    I was rresearching on Askjeeve ffor something else, Nonetheless I
    am heere now and would just like to say kudos for a fantastic post and a all round interesting
    blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have
    time to read it alll at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have
    time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the great work. http://forum.altaycoins.com/viewtopic.php?id=695355

  9. What i don’t understood is in truth how you’re now not really much more well-favored than you may be right now.
    You’re very intelligent. You know therefore considerably in terms of this topic, produced me in my opinion consider it from numerous numerous angles.
    Its like men and women are not fascinated until it is one thing to accomplish
    wit Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs nice. At all times take care
    of it up! https://www.alonegocio.net.br/author/michellemed/

  10. Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell
    and gabe it tto mmy 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell
    to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside
    and it pinched her ear. She never wants tto go back!
    LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tel someone! http://another-ro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=151987

  11. Magnificet goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too magnificent.
    I actually like what you have acquired here, really like what
    you aare saying and the way in which you say it.
    You make iit entertaining and you still care for
    to keep it smart. I can not wait to read farr more from you.
    This is actually a great site. https://camillacastro.us/forums/viewtopic.php?id=327003

  12. I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this sort of space .

    Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upoon this website.
    Reading this information So i am happy to express
    thst I have a very just right uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed.
    I most surely will make sure to do noot omit this weeb site and give
    it a look regularly. https://advansbum.by/?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=user&id=888261

  13. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog
    that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this
    for quite some time aand was hoping maybe you would have some
    experience with sokmething like this. Please let me know if you run into anything.
    I truly enjoy reading your blog aand I look forward tto your new updates. https://www.mazafakas.com/user/profile/4176039

  14. I think that what you published made a ton of sense.
    However, what abbout this? whatt if you wrote a catchier post title?
    I am not suggesting your information isn’t
    solid., but supopose you added a title to possibly grab people’s attention? I mean Beteeen Kano
    SWAN and coach Maikaba – Sports Eye is kinnda boring.

    You could look at Yahoo’s front page and see how thdy create post headlines to get viewers to click.
    You might add a video or a pic or two to grab readers excited about
    what you’ve written. Just my opinion, iit woupd make your posts a little biit more interesting. http://another-ro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=150596

  15. Hey there woud you mind stating which bloog platform you’re working with?
    I’m planning to start my own blog in the near uture but I’m having a difficult time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely
    unique. P.S My apologirs for getting
    off-topic buut I hhad to ask! http://forum.altaycoins.com/viewtopic.php?id=695265

  16. Hello there I am sso excited I found your weblog, I rwally found you by accident,
    while I was researching on Yahoo for something else,
    Nonetheless I am here now and would jut like to say cheers for a incredible post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t
    have time to read through it alll at the minute but I have saved it and also included
    your RSS feeds, so when I have time I wil be back to read more, Please do keep up the awesome jo. https://depot.lk/user/profile/29821

  17. I thinnk everything said was very reasonable. However, think
    about this, suppose you composed a catchier post title?
    I ain’t suggesting yyour information isn’t good, however suppose you added a headline that makes people dersire more?
    I mean Between Kano SWAN and coach Maikaba – Sports Eye is kinda plain. You might peek at Yahoo’s front page
    and watch how they create post titles to grab viewers interested.

    You might try addxing a viseo oor a related pic or two to grab people
    interested about everything’ve got to say.
    In my opinion, it might bring your blog a little livelier. https://camillacastro.us/forums/viewtopic.php?id=327561

  18. Hey this is somewhat of off topic butt I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors
    or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge soo I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience.
    Any help ould be greatly appreciated! https://gametrends5.wordpress.com/@his.dewuch.com:mail.dewuch.com:110:his.dewuch.com:MbwppskjUrrk

  19. This design is wicked! Yoou definitely know how to keep a reader entertained.
    Beyween your wwit and yopur videos, I was almost moved too strt my
    own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job.
    I really enjoyed what you hadd to say, and more than that, how
    you presented it. Too cool! https://gamingera2.wordpress.com/

  20. Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d fgured I’d ask.
    Would you be interested in tradin links or maybe guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa?
    My site discusses a lot of the same topics as youjrs and I feel we coul greatly benefit frpm each other.
    If you are interested feel free to send me an email.

    I look forward to hearing from you! Awesome blog by the way! https://664f5b12f20c6.site123.me/

  21. hello there and thank you for your info – I have cettainly picked up anything new frfom right here.
    I did however expertise a feww technical issues using ths site, sincee I experienced to rerload the site many times previous to I could get it to loa
    properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK?
    Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement
    in gokogle and could damage your high quality score if advertising and
    marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS
    to my email and coiuld look out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content.

    Ensure that you update this again very soon. https://telegra.ph/New-Graphic-Design-Trends-for-2024-05-23

  22. Wonderful goods from you, man. I’ve understand our stuff previouus to and you are just too fantastic.
    I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what yyou aree saying and
    the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining
    and you still take care of to keep it smart.
    I can not wait to read far more from you. This iis actually
    a tremendous web site. https://scrapbox.io/creative-projects/Everything_you_need_to_know_about_creative_project_management

  23. Hi there, i read ylur blog from time to time and i
    own a similar onee andd i wwas just curious
    if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do
    you protect against it, any plugin or anything you can suggest?

    I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any support is very much appreciated. https://scrapbox.io/newproprojects/Everything_you_need_to_know_about_creative_project_management

  24. Whats up this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering if
    blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
    I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so
    I wanted to geet advice from someone with experience.
    Anyy help would be enormusly appreciated! https://gamereleasetoday.com/%d0%ba%d0%b0%d0%ba-%d0%b7%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b3%d0%b8%d1%81%d1%82%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%b0%d1%82%d1%8c%d1%81%d1%8f-%d0%bd%d0%b0-bet-match/

Comments are closed.