By Ayo Ademokoya
Alhaji Kabiru Baita, Chairman of Kano Pillars FC has assured the teeming fans and supporters of ‘Sai Ma Gida’ that their darling team would not only win the Nigerian Professional League come next season but will also go ahead to win the CAF Champions League which has eluded Kano Pillars 3 times after they were bundled out by their Nigerian counterpart, Heartland FC of Owerri at the semifinal of the championship in 2009.
Alhaji Baita, who was appointed almost at the mid season of the just concluded 2014/2015 Nigerian Professional League season by the newly elected Governor Ibrahim Ganduje to succeed Alhaji Abba Yola shared his vision for the club in the forthcoming years as well as disclosed the reasons the former Nigerian League champion, Kano Pillars could not defend the trophy won in 2013/2014 in an exclusive interview with our correspondent after the seminar organized by the League Management Company held recently at the Lagos Business School ,Lekki for all the club chairmen in the country.
“It is unfortunate that Kano Pillar could not pick a continental ticket this league due to a lot of factors I met on ground when I came. First reason was the armed robbery attack on the team sometimes in January 2015 at the commencement of the league where some of our top players were shot and many others injured a situation which distabilsed the team.
“Also part of the mess I inherited was a large number of players who are on loan to Kano Pillars and are lackadaisical towards the ambition of the club. These players whose statuses are not permanent with us put a big question mark on their level of commitment, determination and dedication to the team. These players on loan inimical to the core vision of the club and often threatened to leave for the original club they belong to if certain conditions are not met which grossly affected their focus and their performances on and off the field of play.
“We used to have the most consistent crop of players who has long term contract with us in Kano Pillar which brought about the cohesion and understanding among themselves having played together for quite some time which enhances a particular form of pattern of play which we are able to sustain. These sets of players are now are old and could be tagged ‘tired legs’ and there is need to replace them for more youthful, talented, and determined players with hunger and thirst for glory who would take it up from where they left. I need to bring at least ten new players to prosecute the 2015/2016 League season.
When asked whether the team could still win the elusive champions league someday, the amiable chairman said that he would keep to his chest secrets of how and what he will be the first chairman to bring the CAF Champions Cup which soccer loving Kano people several times now once he is able to be crowned of Nigerian Champions again.
“The answer to your question is not how to win the CAF champions Cup but when and In sha Allahu once I become Nigerian League Champion again or pick the continental ticket, Kano Pillars would rule Africa since I already know why we haven’t won it ,but the secret I will keep to myself for now” he concluded
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