“I pray that he (the Governor) looks into other sports too. Kano Pillars have drained other sports in Kano state. Despite all this attention, Kano state hardly qualifies for youth games or sports festivals. I think there should be diversity.”
The above were the expressions of one, Ahmed Mohammed Saba in his response to my write up titled: “Faulty, unreliable vehicles: Kano Pillars need Governor Abba’s assistance” which appeared penultimate Monday.
To Saba,, Kano Pillars FC activities have overwhelmed and depleted all that which adversely impacted the advancement and improvement of other games in Kano state.
He was of the opinion that it is this over-consideration given to football that caused different games to endure a ton which made the state to barely fit the bill for the state to hardly qualify for National Youth Games or National Sports Festivals.
Ahmed Mohammed Saba in this manner, thought and proposes equivalent treatment so different games also can definitely stand out.
But I recalled in the write-up that, all I narrated was the untold hardship the Kano Pillars Football Club players, their technical crew and the management are experiencing anytime they are playing away due to the faulty and obsolete vehicles.
I intimated His Excellency about the importance of a good and excellent transport unit which is lacking in Kano Pillars Football Club, because all the team has are a series of old, faulty and unreliable vehicles which develop problems and break down anytime while on the road.
To all of us, the buses in the Kano Pillars bus park are not road worthy which I see as a serious matter which needs serious attention because the absence of good and serviceable vehicles is seriously affecting the club.
What they have now left, are the collections of old, tired, bad and dilapidated vehicles which the team is using to transport their players, officials and management to their away matches.
The vehicles the club are using to honor their away matches are death traps as they are always faulty since they hardly go a few kilometers or far distances without developing one or another problem which is dangerous to the lives of all those in transit.
Besides that, the security situation of the country is yet another factor to put into consideration and avoid any unfortunate situation. It also used to bring a lot of stress and fatigue on the part of the players which affected their performance during matches.
That was why I appealed to His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to look at their plights and provide them with vehicles so as to ease their transportation problems.
But since Ahmed Mohammed Saba made his observation, I was worried because I am not aware of the government neglecting other sports and nobody drew my attention to such happenings.
And to get or know exactly what he wants to say or was saying I forwarded his words to some of my readers who are mostly sports fans, followers or sports stakeholders not only in Kano state but the country in general.
But before I continue, I want to make some correction or insinuation on Ahmad Saba’s words that “Kano state hardly qualifies for youth games or sports festivals”.
This is not correct as Kano state always qualified and registered its presence in every Youth Games and Sports Festivals against what he said.
In fact, it is on record that Kano always attended and participated in all the two or three national games but it was the result that matters. From the records available, the state is finding it difficult in team games from the zone, especially football.
Ahmad R. Bello -RB Junior (Journalist) has this to say.
Yes. I think it’s true that the PILLARS football team has taken away the privileges other sports have been enjoying.
I’m candidly in support of his observation which I’m certain we both have been hammering in our long course of sports journalism practice.
I think it’s going to be good to touch on this area because this trend of giving much attention to football in Kano and Nigeria at large calls for concern.
Jamilu Uba Adamu (NDLEA Sports Officer and also freelance sports journalist) also has this:
Football is the world’s most popular sport, football undoubtedly reigns supreme. It’s the unofficial national sport of many countries, with a few notable exceptions like India, where cricket holds sway, and the United States, where basketball and American football vie for attention.
So I can say boldly Football is the number one sport in Kano.
However, as much as I love football, I firmly believe that other sports deserve equal attention and promotion. The Kano State Government (KNSG) ministry of sport in particular needs to do more in supporting and developing other sports disciplines.
Let us have an inclusive sports ecosystem that nurtures diverse talents that foster healthy competition across various sports. By doing so, we can unlock the full potential of our athletes and create a brighter future for sports in Kano State.
Ahmed Suraj (Sports admin and YMSUK Head of Sports)
The dominance of Kano Pillars in Kano State’s sports scene has undoubtedly overshadowed other sports, making it challenging for the state to excel in youth games and sports festivals.
To change this narrative, embracing diversity in sports is crucial.
Diversification Benefits
First of all there need to encourages participation in various sports, such as Racket games, eg. Badminton, Table Tennis, Squash etc. Athletic events both Track and Field this will give an ample opportunities to identifying and nurturing talented athletes across different disciplines.
Secondly, it will fosters a more comprehensive sports development program, ensuring a stronger presence in youth games and sports festivals.
Thirdly, to promote a culture of inclusivity, allowing athletes to explore and excel in their preferred sports.
Way Forward: Kano State can take cues from initiatives like the dietary diversity project, which has successfully promoted unity and progress in the community, by investing in diverse sports programs and providing opportunities for athletes to participate and grow, the state can work towards a more balanced and thriving sports ecosystem.
Conclusively, ultimately, diversifying sports in Kano State will not only enhance its performance in youth games and sports festivals but also contribute to the overall development of its athletes and the community.
In our University, YUMSUK, in my Directorate we are looking forward to diversify by introducing a n “Athletic Championship” to engage students into various sporting events not only Ball games like Soccer, Basketball, Handball and Volleyball.
We want to see more engagement in sports like running events, jumping events and throwing events to pave for students participation perhaps, to secure more medals in NUGA and WAUG.
Ibrahim Gwadabe(Chairman Coaches Council) opined that:
What he has said is true. There’s an allegation as of now, the Kano State Sports Commission has no grassroots development plan for our athletes. They only preferred ready-made athletes from other states to represent the state in any national events.
Some of these athletes even never visit Kano for once but only receive alerts on a monthly basis and whenever there’s national competition they just report there and represent the state.
The commission neglects a plan to develop our athletes from grassroots as done by other states so as to create job opportunities for our teeming youth.
We are also in a serious need for the provision of sporting facilities and upgrade the ones we have as they are in deplorable condition. Without good facilities there will be no sports development.
One of the annoying and ugly situations as to the neglect of other sports is the issue of managerial aspects of these sports associations in the state.
Presently and based on reliable sources, there’s no existing board members appointed or elected to manage the associations. It’s only by having a well constituted board of these sports associations that a meaningful plan can be implemented. So there’s a need for the government to ensure we have constituted board members to manage the associations.
The most disturbing problem of sports in the state is that since the enactment of the Kano State Sports Commission Law, it has had no governing council as required by section 4 of the Law.
His Excellency is empowered by section 6 of the Law to make the appointment which is highly needed for the commission to function well. It’s only when there’s a full governing council of the commission that its statutory functions can be executed.
Section 15 of the said Law has empowered the commission to review the statutes and constitution of these associations to conform to reality so as to have persons with genuine love for the sports to be at the helm of their affairs.
Also section 19 of the Law has vividly made it clear that these associations are subordinate to the commission.
Based on the foregoing I think there’s need to call His Excellency’s attention to hurriedly constitute the governing board with persons of integrity and expertise in sports and that will pave the way for the commission to have a board of various sports associations and work in synergy so as to move our sports forward.
The present situation of giving only Kano Pillars attention to the detriment to other sports will not argue well for the state.
There are allegations going round that some staff of the commission are sabotaging the effort to have the board of the associations with the exception of the Football Association because the functions of these associations are now left on the organizing secretaries of the associations to do.
Similarly, there’s a need to overhaul the entire managerial aspect of the commission since we now have the acting chairman who knows a lot of the numerous problems facing sports and I believe if given full support from the government, he will live up to expectations.
Another disheartening issue is that for almost ten years since the last batch of football coaches retired from the service of the commission, there’s no appointment of a football coach on permanent and pensionable appointment. I believe this is the case with many sports in the commission.
Despite the fact that we have young and talented football coaches in the state that are free and ready to take the appointment.
The commission only continues to appoint coaches for various sports competitions on an ad-hoc basis which will never produce good results.
I wish to suggest to His Excellency to follow the steps of the Federal government to scrap the ministry of Youth and sports and allow only the sports commission with direct access to his office or that of the SSG.
This will allow him to have first hand information about the sports activities. The ministry should be left for Youth only as it’s now applicable in the federal government.
Also, there’s urgent need for His Excellency to consider conveying the Kano Sports Summit where all stakeholders will converge to discuss sports problems and prefer solutions to them.
I believe His Excellency is well aware that these two important segments of the public, that is Youth and Sports, are what contributed to the emergence of the second tenure of Kwankwaso as well as the present government.
So he should hold it firmly and give it all the necessary needs to succeed.
Dr Sadiq Garba (Administrator and soccer fan) has this also:
The nagging question of poor logistics for the Kano darling team-Pillars calls for urgent action. The team, like the majority of its counterparts in the premiership, relies heavily on the government.
While the state government has consistently been responsive to the plights of the team, I believe that it is highly unlikely that it can effectively carry on.
And this is where spirited individuals and corporate entities come into the equation.
Professional leagues the world over, are sustained by multiple sponsorships. The Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and South African leagues are higher in standard due largely to the robustness of their sponsorships.
Kano Pillars will excel if the frontier of its sponsors is extended. In the past, individuals like Abdulkadir Adamu, Sarkin Shanun Kazaure and Isyaku Umar Tofa were prominent traditional supporters of sports in Kano.
We could borrow a leaf from them. And sporting activities especially, soccer will be the better for it.
Dr Nura Garba Sabon Sara (Administrator and Sports Analyst)
It is true that the authorities and those in charge of affairs of sports in Kano have concentrated most of their energy and resources on soccer at the expense of other sports which has negatively affected other sports in the state.
Unlike in those days when Basketball, Tennis, Judo Taekwondo and other games were reigning and thriving in the state, all those sports are now swept under the carpet.
The lip service to other games has affected and is affecting our teeming youth who have potential to exploit their talents in other games as it used to stagnate the state teams at the National Youth Festival and National Youth Games.
Even in the NUGA, NICEGA and NIPOGA games, Kano institutions hardly perform well. This is an indicator that other sports are nowhere in the state.
If you want to see basketball courts or other courts, you are given a tough task to find one except in BUK, FCE, Sani Abacha Stadium or a dilapidated one at Rumfa College.
Honestly, something needs to be done to save other sports from total collapse.
Bashir Ahmad Maizare (Retired Director of Sports)
It is true that football is given priority but it is not only in Kano state that the government prioritized football at the expense of other sports as it is practiced in most Nigerian states including FCT Abuja.
Most states prioritized football more than other sports due to its massive popularity, support and its potential for national pride.
This is because football has a huge following in Nigeria, and the country has produced talented players like Kanu Nwankwo, Jay-jay Okocha, and Ahmed Musa, who have made significant contributions to the sport globally.
More so, the Nigerian sport media has played a significant role in promoting football, reporting on the exploits of teams and players, and preserving the sport’s history. This widespread media coverage has contributed to football’s widespread popularity.
Additionally, the potential for financial gains through sports betting has also contributed to the prioritization of football.
Many Nigerian youths have become interested in sports betting, which has further increased the popularity of the game.
The presence of prominent football clubs in various states, such as Enyimba International F.C.Aba and Kano Pillars F.C. also contributes to the focus on football.
These clubs have strong followers and have achieved success in national and international competitions, which has helped to further boost the sport’s popularity.
Kano State Sports Commission is a government sports organization established in 2016 from the former Kano State Sports Council which was established in 1976 by the then Kano State Military Government under Commissioner of Police late Alhaji Audu Bako.
The Commission is responsible for organizing, developing and supervising sports activities in the state. It has about 34 sports associations organizing and participating in sports in and outside the state.
The Commission also used to participate in three major National sporting events such as National Sports Festivals, National Para Games and National Youth Games all organized by the then Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development of Nigeria.
To sample the Commission performance so far, let’s take two of each recent event which the Commission participated: At the National Sports Festivals, team Kano State secured the 9th position in the final medals table at the 20th edition of the Nigeria National Sports Festival held in Edo State in 2021.
The team won a total of 66 medals, comprising 11 gold, 22 silver, and 33 bronze medals. While team Kano secured 7th position in the final medals table at the 21st edition of the Nigeria National Sports Festival held in Delta State in 2022.
Team Kano State won a total of 76 medals, comprising 19 gold, 27 silver, and 30 bronze medals. Above all no northern state including FCT Abuja is above Kano state on the medals table.
In another competition or National Para Games in Abuja, team Kanó State secured the 3rd positions in the final medals tables at the 1st and 2nd editions of the Nigeria National Para Games held in Abuja in 2022 and 2023.
The team Kano won a total of 42 medals, comprising 21 gold, 13 silver, and 8 bronze medals as well as 15 gold, 12 silver and 17 bronze medals respectively.
In the last competition for the National Youth Games, team Kano secured the 21st position in the final medals table at the 7th edition of the Nigeria National Youth Games held in Delta State in 2023. The team Ksno won a total of 9 medals, comprising 1gold, 5 silver, and 9 bronze medals.
While Team Kano State secured the 13th position in the final medals table at the 8th edition of the Nigeria National Youth Games held in Delta State in 2024. The Team Kano won a total of 9 medals, comprising 5 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals respectively.
Looking at the above summations from the top sports stakeholders, one will conclude that even though the Kano State Government from day one to date has been supporting other sports but there is some inattention especially in grassroots sports and facilities development in the remote areas of the state.
I am fully aware that the government at various times does release a lump sum of money for individual or team’s participation in various sports events. It doesn’t discriminate.
To overcome this, the government needs to massively provide facilities especially for other sports in various locations, at various schools and in all the local government areas of the state.
Without a doubt without grassroots games there is no sports development or improvement. Consequently, coaches ought to likewise be utilized and drafted or relegated to each center or school and local government areas so that they can promote different games among our abounding young people of the state.
For sure without grassroots sports there is no sports development. Therefore, coaches should also be employed and drafted or assigned to.
It is just when the facilities are there and coaches are sent to groom the players or athletes then, at that point, sports or different games can be developed.