Indeed, witnessing the steady decline of the Kano Pillars Football Club has made it more important than ever for us to pause, reflect, and critically examine the underlying issues that have dragged this once-proud team into its current state of instability.
To most of us, what we see today is not only merely a temporary setback, but the accumulated result of years of unresolved challenges ranging from administrative lapses and financial burdens to structural weaknesses within the club.
This worrying situation demands a sincere and comprehensive search for the true causes, so that meaningful and lasting solutions can be found to restore the club to the stature it once enjoyed.
Some people believe that dissolving the club’s leadership and replacing them with a fresh set of administrators is the quickest and most effective solution to the problems facing Kano Pillars.
To them, a complete overhaul of the management structure is the only way to reset the club and restore discipline, focus, and efficiency.
However, others strongly disagree with this viewpoint. They argue that leadership changes alone will not resolve the deep-rooted issues affecting the club, and that such a move may only offer temporary relief without addressing the real causes of the decline.
According to this group of people, rushing to dismantle the current leadership without a clear and sustainable plan will simply repeat the cycle of instability that has plagued the club for years.
Those calling for the dissolution of the leadership accuse the current administrators of gross negligence and a lack of strategic vision.
They argue that the management has failed in one of its most fundamental responsibilities for recruiting quality players who can effectively replace aging squad members or those who have transferred to other clubs.
According to them, this failure has created a vacuum within the team, weakening its competitive strength and leaving it unable to perform at the level expected of a club with such a proud history.
They insist that the management of the club have not been proactive in scouting talented prospects, investing in youth development, or building a squad capable of challenging in major competitions.
To these critics, this negligence is a clear indication that the present leadership has lost touch with the realities of modern football management and therefore deserves to be replaced.
But others believe that this situation was destined to happen by the decree of the Most High, and that no human effort alone could have prevented it.
To them, the challenges facing Kano Pillars are part of a larger divine plan, and changing leaders or bringing in new administrators, no matter how skilled, experienced, or competent they may be, would not have altered the outcome.
They argue that sometimes circumstances unfold in a way that is beyond human control, and the club’s present condition is simply a phase that it was meant to pass through.
According to this group, blaming individuals or rushing to restructure the leadership is unnecessary, because the results would likely remain the same until the time appointed by Allah (SWT) for things to turn around.
However, an investigation we conducted has revealed that Kano Pillars is weighed down by a significant number of financial obligations owed to various individuals, and groups which accumulated burden may be one of the major factors crippling the club’s ability to move forward.
The findings show that over the years, debts (both small and large) have piled up to the point where the club is struggling under their weight.
These obligations have become a heavy anchor, draining resources, creating tension, and limiting the management’s capacity to plan effectively or invest in the areas necessary for growth.
Instead of focusing on rebuilding the team, improving performance, or strengthening the club’s structure, much of the energy is now consumed by unresolved financial commitments.
This growing debt may indeed be the invisible chain preventing Kano Pillars from rising back to the heights it once enjoyed.
Findings revealed that a significant number of individuals are owed millions of naira by Kano Pillars, and the list of creditors continues to grow with each passing year.
Some of these people gave out their personal funds to support the club during crucial periods covering travel expenses, logistics, and other operational needs, simply to ensure that the team did not collapse during difficult moments.
Others, including staff members, coaches, and service providers, are being owed salaries, wages, and payments for services rendered, yet they continue to wait endlessly without any concrete hope of when, or even if, they will be paid.
The situation has created a deep sense of frustration, as many of these debts have lingered for years without a single instalment or a clear repayment plan.
This atmosphere of uncertainty and unpaid obligations has further damaged the club’s credibility, making it difficult for creditors or contributors to trust the management or invest in the future of the team.
For example, it is widely known that during the tenure of Babangida Little as chairman, the club received a substantial sum of about seventy million naira (₦70m) from Alhaji Naziru Wapa to cover travel expenses for the team.
This money was intended to ensure that the players and staff could travel for matches, tournaments, and other official engagements without interruption.
However, despite the passage of considerable time, there has been no meaningful discussion or plan put in place to reimburse him, and no action has been taken to settle this debt.
The failure to address this obligation has not only created financial strain on the club but also raised questions about transparency and accountability within its leadership.
Such unresolved debts continue to erode confidence in the club’s management and discourage potential benefactors from supporting Kano Pillars in the future.
There are also reports indicating that the former coach of the club, Ibrahim Musa Jugnu, is owed N3millions and yet no concrete effort has been made by the club’s management to settle his entitlements.
Despite his years of service and the contributions he made to the development of the team, his dues remain unpaid, highlighting a pattern of negligence and lack of accountability within the club.
Similarly, even the most recent coach, Usman Abdallah, has publicly revealed that the club still owes him his rightful payments.
Although he has officially resigned from his duties few months ago, the club has failed to honor his contractual obligations, leaving him without the compensation he earned.
These ongoing issues not only reflect poorly on the management’s professionalism but also create an atmosphere of uncertainty and distrust, which can discourage competent professionals or creditors from associating with Kano Pillars in the future.
The repeated failure to pay coaches and staff underscores the urgent need for financial reform and proper governance within the club.
Furthermore, the former secretary of the club, Bashir Maizare, reportedly lend over N3millions to support the club’s operations many years ago, but up till now, there has been no conversation on refunding the money, let alone making arrangements for payment.
Investigations further revealed that several former management who once managed the club had either borrowed funds on behalf of Kano Pillars or provided goods and services necessary for the team’s operations.
Despite their contributions, many of these individuals have yet to receive repayment, leaving a trail of unsettled obligations that continues to weigh heavily on the club’s finances.
This pattern of unpaid debts reflects a chronic lack of financial planning and accountability, and it has contributed significantly to the instability the club faces today.
Moreover, it would not be surprising if it emerges that the former coach, Evans Oginye, is also owed money by the club, given the consistent delays in settling dues for past staff.
Similarly, it would hardly be shocking if Yaro Yaro, too, is among those to whom Kano Pillars remains indebted.
These lingering financial responsibilities not only tarnish the club’s reputation but also make it difficult to attract skilled personnel, investors, and sponsors, all of whom require assurance that the club is capable of meeting its obligations in a timely and professional manner.
However, it is important to acknowledge and commend the Executive Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his proactive intervention in settling the millions of naira that were owed to the family of the late Salisu Yaro.
Before his untimely passing, Salisu Yaro had been entitled to a significant sum from the club, yet these funds had remained unpaid, creating financial hardship and uncertainty for his family.
By ensuring that this long-overdue debt was honoured, Governor Yusuf not only brought relief to the bereaved family but also set a positive example of accountability and good governance.
His action demonstrates a commitment to fairness and responsibility, highlighting the critical role of leadership in resolving longstanding financial disputes that have hindered the club’s stability and reputation.
I wish to respectfully appeal to the Governor to also turn his attention to the persistent debt crisis plaguing Kano Pillars Football Club and to take decisive steps to ensure that all outstanding obligations are promptly settled.
The club owes millions of naira to some ex-former players, coaches, managements, and other contributors whose services and support were crucial to its operations, yet many have waited years without any resolution.
Addressing these debts is not merely a matter of financial housekeeping, it is essential for restoring trust, rebuilding the club’s credibility, and creating an environment where staff and players feel valued and motivated.
As the saying goes, “a stitch in time saves nine,” and timely intervention by the state government could prevent the accumulation of further financial complications, safeguard the future of the club, and restore pride to Kano’s beloved team.
