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Shekarau tasks Pillars’
board on continental ticket
By ADO SALISU
KANO state government has tasked the management committee of Kano Pillars
Football Club to redouble their effort to ensure that the club secure one of
the continental tickets at the end of next football season.
The state commissioner of information, youth, sports and culture, Alhaji
Ibrahim Garba stated this while inaugurating the reconstituted management
committee of Kano Pillars led by Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Babangida at the
ministry boardroom on Friday.
Alhaji Garba who spoke through his permanent secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Zubair
Galadanchi explained that the government desire to reconstitute the present
management is in order to re-enforce the operation of the club, control its
finance and adhere to proper procedures of incurring financial expenditure
towards achieving maximum results.
The commissioner said that since the inception of the club, the state
government has been its sole financier and the present administration under
the able leadership of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has done alot in terms of
funding which cannot be equated with any other during previous
administrations in the state, adding that the state government’s financial
support did not only end with Kano Pillars, 13 other football clubs and
associations in both the amateur and professional clubs have also been
affected.
According to him, football the world over is regarded as the most
entertaining game, a political weapon as well as enhancing the
socio-economic upliftment of individuals and nations. Therefore, the
government cannot toy with the game in order to meet the yearning and
aspirations of teeming soccer loving people of the state.
‘’Kano Pillars Football Club has been in place for quite sometimes enjoying
government sponsorship but the turn over in terms of performance is not very
encouraging despite government financials commitments towards raising the
standard of the team in both national and continental championships,’’ he
said.
He said that the selection of the committee members which cuts across all
segment of stakeholders and other notable person with proven interest in
sports was done on merit and in consideration of their immense contribution
to the promotion and development of sports in the state and the country at
large.
‘’ I wish to state here without mincing words that 90 per cent of sports
funds in Kano state is provided by government for our participation in
national outings as well as hosting national and international competition.
This trend cannot continue if we must get to the “promising land” in sports.
Sports as we all know, has to compete with other compelling social services
for government funding and patronage. Hence we have to find an alternative
source of fund to ensure that sports programme of this nature are adequately
executed’’.
‘’apart from the round leather game, the government has expended a
substantial amount of money in the promotion of sports and the development
of sporting facilities as exemplified in the provision of boundary wall at
Kano Pillars Stadium, provision of parameter wire fencing at Sani Abacha
Stadium, Kofar Mata for security purpose as well as hosting international
and national sporting activities such as Nigeria/Angola World Cup qualifier
in the year 2005
He therefore enjoined members to endeavour to solicit for sponsorship from
corporate organizations and sports philanthropists so that the activities of
the Kano Pillars FC can be partly financed outside the purse of the
government.
Members of the committee include the head of Physical and Health Education
of Bayero University, Kano, Dr. Musa A.A Garba Yakasai, former Raccah Rovers
player, Muhammad Musa, Abdu Baso, the chairman Kano Pillars fans club,
Habibu Abdu Fagge and the state football association board member, Alhaji
Abba Galadima.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 2006