Kano Pillars attacked by armed robbers.

   The bus conveying players and officials of Kano Pillars was attacked by men of the underworld on their way to Owerri for their league opener against Heartland of Owerri. The incident occurred along Abaji - Lokoja road around 1.45 pm.
   The attack took the team unawares. Reports say the men appeared from 'nowhere' and just opened fire. Five of their key players were injured. Gambo Mohammed received gunshot wounds to the shoulder. Reuben Ogbonna, Eneji Otekpa, Adamu Murtala and Ubong Ekpai were equally wounded. Fortunately, there was no record of death.  The Nigerian Premier League champions, coming on the heels of a champions league victory were in high spirits to resume defence of their title.
   This brings to mind, an interview of an ex Super Eagles player who said many years ago that the only reason he wouldn't play in the local league is distance to games by road. He gave an instance of one playing for Enyimba having to travel to Nassarawa for a game. I guess he didn't put into consideration that Maidugri had a premier league club and so does Portharcourt. Therefore a  journey by Dolphins of Portharcourt to play against El Kanemi Warriors of Maidugri is a journey across the length of Nigeria. Hazards of the Nigerian football league. But then, show must go on.
   One hopes the players, staff and supporters of Kano Pillars recover soon enough from the trauma and that the injured players heal quickly. In terms of quality of game, Kano Pillars is one of the best around. With the arrival of seasoned campaigners, including former Rangers goal poacher, Obiozor Christian, the club is expected to play prettier.

Photo credit; goal.com

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Nigerian Football League. Comedy or football?

   According to the Chief Operating Officer of the League Management Company, Salihu Abubakar, all clubs registering for the Nigerian football league 2015 should show a a quarterly financial performance guarantee of 50 million naira or a one off 200 million naira. This is the basic condition for licensing to be part of the 2015 professional football league. *yinmu*...story for the gods.
Realists like me don't believe they will stick to this. Last season, a minimum wage was set for players. We all know how players of Sharks, Dolphins and Rivers Angels slept in front of the government house in protest of non payment of long standing salaries and allowances. I am surprised no Nollywood producer have deemed it fit to produce a movie in that direction.
   A lot of people in Nigeria don't watch the Nigerian football league. I must say however, that last season was impressive. Kudos to the LMC. The lack of interest by a vast majority of the Nigerian football community can be attributed to sheer unseriousness by, not the players, but the organisers. This, I think is what necessitated the birth of the LMC. Maybe as a result of the contract with Supersport, there was a marked improvement in the organisation. Last season was fair. This season, billed to resume on the 7th of March could be better, or worse off. Better, because we can build on the improvement of last season. Worse, because we have a culture of instead of bettering on 'achievements', we do a Michael Jackson moon walk and slide back to a position beyond where we were before we started off. Example could be cited in the recent non qualification of the Super Eagles for AFCON 2015 having won the 2014 edition. Shameful. But then shame means nothing to us. Sometimes we even feed off shame. Mouth 'shame' to the average Nigerian child and he will spread his phalanges towards you and scream 'waka'! We no dey shame.
   Last season recorded lots of beauties. Teams could go away from their homes and batter the home side. Rarities in the past. Everybody sat up. I believe the conducive atmosphere was what gave rise to Emem Eduok and Mfon Udo's emergence as stars of the season.
I went to the Samson Siasia stadium in Yenagoa and saw that the 'pitch' was still a concrete layout. Having removed the artificial turf two seasons ago for a re-lay, it was duly abandoned due to contractual differences between the contractor and the Bayelsa State government. I was appalled to see it still like that. That means Bayelsa United will this season, play away from home like they did last season when they had to play in Benin and Nembe City played in Omokhu. A factor that led to Nembe City's eventual relegation from the elite league. Home ground issues should form part of conditions for licensing and not just finances. In Nigerian football league, the hostility in away games is solid. When one now has to play home games in an adopted 'home' ground, then you are not home. You are in hell. Football hell.
   Will the coming season be a beautiful one? Are we going to see comedy or real football? I want to believe that all the stakeholders are ready for the resumption of hostilities. Talents abound in the country, but (unfavourable) condition is always an enemy of talent. That said, we hope to witness less comedy and more football.