Pillars escape home defeat *Force Heartland to 1-1 draw
By ADO SALISU
KANO Pillars Football Club on Saturday forced visiting Heartland FC of Owerri to a 1-1 draw in the week-four of the on-going Premier League played at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, Kano.
The match televised live by the SuperSports and watched by a large turn out of spectators saw Pillars storming the arena with much enthusiasim to carry the day but the visitors drew the first blood in the 13th minute when Afelokhai Theophilus, in goal for Pillars’ failed in his responsibility by allowing Heartland Uzochukwu Sam header sailed into his net for the visitors’ goal.
Pillars saving grace after squandering the several scoring chances that they created, came in the 69th minute when Bala Muhammad headed home a corner kick taken by Chinedu Justine from the right flank for the much needed equaliser.
Although Pillars forced the visitors, who are now second on the group table to a draw, they have themselve to blame for being flatfooted.
Coach Justine Tenger said that he is impressed with his boys performance though his only regret was the boys’ inability to utilise the several scoring chances that came their way.
‘’l think what the players need to do is to pray harder now for God to answer their prayers for them to be converting the chances’’.
He said he will now concentrate more in tactical discipline for his strikers, a ploy he said will soon start yeilding results.
In his contribution, the team manager club of Owerri, Mr. Emeka Iwuagu has attributed the success of the team in the on-going Globacom Premier league to the determination of the players to excel rather than for any monetary incentives.
Mr. Iwuagwu made the declaration over the weekend in Kano after his side was forced to a 1-1 score draw inside the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano by host Kano Pillars FC.
According to him, the determination of the players to excel in the competition is the key word in the success story recorded so far by the club.
The team manager said there are clubs in the country that have all the financial muscles yet they are not doing well because of lack of the willing spirit to excel by the players which he noted is the difference between his players and their counterpart in other clubs.
He said what was paramound in the mind of every player and official in the club is to see the club performs well to justify its quest for national honours at the end of the season.
He further explained that Imo state governor Chief Chike Udenwa is very keen in the affairs of the club by ensuring all the needs of the club is given adequate attention.
The team manager also noted that the Nigeria league is witnessing a smooth romance which is a progressive development for the game in the country. “Officiating for me is moving on the right part and my prayers is for them to continue, you can see it yourself, this is good for the league”.