Kano Pillars kick off campaign with win

Two goals in four minutes helped the defending Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions discard the ‘Restoration Boys’ in their opening game of the season.Coach Okey Emordi named the duo of Reuben Ogbonnaya and Ubong Ekpai, two of the five injured players in last week’s attack, in his starting XI having being given the all-clear […]

Two goals in four minutes helped the defending Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions discard the ‘Restoration Boys’ in their opening game of the season.
Coach Okey Emordi named the duo of Reuben Ogbonnaya and Ubong Ekpai, two of the five injured players in last week’s attack, in his starting XI having being given the all-clear to play football.
New signing Adamu Mohammed and Suleiman Usman also started in Sai Masu Gida’s first home game of the season.
Former Kano Pillars defender Anthony Abaluwa returned to the Sani Abacha Stadium on the opposition’s side and proved a handful for his former team-mates in the first half.
Adamu Hassan opened scoring from a Rabiu Ali cross in the first minute of the restart and Moses Ekpai doubled Pillars’ advantage from Promise James’ assist.
Proceedings were momentarily held up on the hour mark when a Policeman’s gas canister apparently went off accidentally. The home side sought for a third goal late on but to no avail.
Pillars will be on continental duty next weekend with a trip to Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco in a rescheduled Caf Champions League first round tie.
Pillars star Isaac Loute said they have gradually overcame the trauma of two weeks ago and are keen to defend their title.
“We’re getting over the rude shock of the armed robbery attack and I know we’re equal to the task in the league with the quality of players in our midst, with or without our injured players”.
“We’ll do everything not to disappoint our injured players,” said Loute.
The Sai Masu Gida were favourites to pick maximum points from this their first game of the season with two wins and a draw in their last three meetings in Kano and they didn’t disappoint their teeming fans.