It is obvious that the current efforts of the Kano State Government under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to better the Sani Abacha Stadium in the state is highly commendable and appreciative because it is not only for the betterment of the stadium, but for the players as well as the spectators.
It was the state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso who made the rehabilitation known few weeks to the commencement of the league which all the sports stakeholders in the state were happy with.
The commissioner was quoted that the rehabilitation will be carried out in phases and he assured that it would not take long to be completed.
The repairs was said to be started at the end of the month of July and was expected to be completed before the kickoff of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL which is now about three-four weeks ago.
But recent development and the nonchalant attitude by the contractor handling the work is worrying everybody in the state as no sign of seriousness is being exhibited.
His failure to do the right thing is doing a lot of harm to Kano state as its darling team, the Kano Pillars is paying heavily for his inaction which now forced the team to be playing its home matches in a far Katsina stadium which many see as playing their home matches in another away. Too bad.
To most of us that is a punishment which has many negative effects on the team, its players, its supporters and the state as a whole.
Before the work, we all know that it is the government’s concern about the sorry state of the stadium that made them take a significant step towards repairing and enhancing the facilities by ensuring that the stadium meets the standards required by not only NPFL but CAF and FIFA respectively.
Moreover, before the commencement of the work we were told that the development is expected to bolster the performance and morale of the Kano Pillars as they prepare for the upcoming season with renewed vigor and improved infrastructure.
But the attitude of the contractor is not working towards that direction as his refusal to do what is expected is bringing untold hardship to Kano Pillars, its players, its officials and the supporters club.
His refusal to complete the repairs of the stadium surface by now or before now has brought an untold hardship to all the stakeholders.
The present economic situation is forestalling hundreds if not thousands of Kano Pillars supporters to travel to far Katsina state to cheer their darling team to victory during their home matches.
Most of us believed that the recent setback recorded by the team when an away team easily defeated Kano Pillars by two goals to nothing in its adopted home was due to the fatigue which the contractor had of course due to his refusal to finish his work on time.
I, therefore, want to join the Kano Pillars FC teeming supporters club, sports stakeholders and other well-wishers of the club and appeal to our sports-loving governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf to direct the contractor to return to site and to do the needful.
As most of them are saying, playing our home matches in far away Katsina is another away match that most teams coming from other states can use, cheat and outsmart the Sai Masu Gida by getting a draw or win in their adopted home.
The contractor must be made to do his work and handover the field to enable Kano Pillars to return to their familiar base without delay because his inaction is a dangerous scenario and is causing a lot of pain to the team in particular and the state in general.
And if the contractor proved adamant, I urged the governor to cancel and rebuke the contract and handed it over to a more capable hand who can deliver in good time.
His Excellency needs to tell the contractor that Kano Pillars must relocate back to Kano and play their remaining home matches as quickly as possible so that they will not lose more matches to escape relegation.
And if the contractor is found to be not serious with the work, he should be axed and prevented from any other government contract.
