Monday 14 March 2016



WWhy and How I formed Kano Pillars ..Ibrahim Galadima..Founder,Kano Pillars FC
By Ayo Ademokoya..

"Former NFA Chairman and the new Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima has finally opened up to www.harohkah.blogspot.com.ng on how as the former Kano State Commissioner for  Youth and sports  formed Kano Pillars football club in 1990.
this revelatuion were made as we were on a research on 25 years of Kano Pillars,the Jubilee celebration which no one remembers to celebrate however the book KANO PILLARS AT 25 will soon be launched to complement books from the Stables of  Reality Publishers,publishers of the Golden Book of Shooting stars and Rashidi Yekini. 
Enjoy the excerpt from the book."
    
To God be the glory for what he has done in the last 25years that Kano Pillars was established. I feel satisfied and elated that I am still alive to witness the progress Kano Pillar has made in Nigerian and African football arena since its formation in 1990.

 In the last 25 years, we had won the Nigerian league 4 times, got to the finals of the Federation Cup, reached the semi finals of the prestigious CAF Champions League to mention but few. Looking back, I believe we have achieved most of the goals and objectives the team is set out to achiever. Foremost of the reason behind the formation of Kano Pillars by the founding fathers was for Kano state to have a strong representation in the newly formed Nigerian Professional league in 1990. We also wanted to  foster unity among vociferous fans of various football clubs in Kano whose rivalry were becoming worrisome to the state government of the day, hence the formation of a single state owned club which would be embraced by all in Kano and in the Diaspora regardless of age, religion. sex, streets, towns and villages they come from in the largest city in Nigeria.

All these we have achieved as Kano Pillars FC of Kano has the best followership, supporters and fans in the Nigerian Professional league according to the survey carried out by the League Management Company. It is no gainsaying that the Sanni Abacha stadium, home of Kano Pillars is always filled to the brim whenever the team is playing while our traveling supporters too are very committed and dedicated to the success of their darling team as they spend their time money and energy now and then.  Of course there has been ups and down in the last 25years but we thank the almighty Allah that we overcame most of them.
How did it all began, before I became the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in 1989,  I was the chairman, Football Association for Kano State .  Everyone was worried about the rivalry among football clubs in the state. 

Hell was always let lose before, during or after a football match involving one local team against another. Raccha Rovers, Brewery, Kofarmata, Young Boys Club, Kano Golden Stars were the leading clubs then and the unhealthy rivalry among them were becoming unbearable to the government.

 We had no peace and we were not achieving what we are set out to achieve with football despite the huge amount government was spending at that time to finance these football clubs in Kano. 

  Also  when we went for the National Sports Festival in Lagos in 1989, Kano state  came 3rd  which was the best position ever by the Kano State, nobody  celebrated that performance because we didn’t do well in football. Therefore I sat down to think deeply, football could be the easiest way to sell our people out to the outside world so I  made a proposal to the Governor of the state at that time ,Colonel Idris Garuba , luckily my governor accepted the proposal and ordered that I set up a government owned  team called “Kano Pillars”.

 We didn’t kill other existing football clubs, what we did was to stop giving attention to them. We concentrated on pumping money only in this government owned club, Kano Pillars which should be embraced by all. Other football clubs died a natural death and of course people complained as expected, we had a long term vision which nothing could deter us from achieving those set goals and objectives.

 It was not easy though, gradually people began to embrace the idea and see reasons for what and why we did what we did. A year after, we got to the finals of the  1991 Challenge Cup  and after 25 years we had a modest achievement of  4 premiership trophies, Kano Pillars turned out to be one of  the leading club in the country whose fame has gone even beyond the shores of Nigeria.

It amuses me when people say I founded the club which I appreciated a lot but I must say here that it was the government of Kano state that formed Kano Pillars club and I just happened to be there as the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports at that time, the credit has to be given to the government and those who accepted the idea.

Why  not?, I believe Kano Pillars can still win the CAF champions league with good organisation and planning in place after all we reached the semifinal stage in 2009 . If Enyimba of Aba could do it, we can do it as well, at least in the nearest future. I hope private could come in and capitalize on the gains this club could offer as it is house hold name in Nigeria.

The pleasure is ours Ayo, for putting records in their true perspective which will enable prosperity appreciate our modest contributions in this sector and Im ready to give all the support needed for this book to be a reality.

We wish you all the best in your endeavour to project pillars in a positive posture.

God bless you.

Ibrahim Galadima,
Former Nigerian Football Association and
 founder of Kano Pillars.
20th of November,2015.
“THE GOLDEN BOOK OF SHOOTING STARS”
A Review by KUNLE SOLAJA

( Excerpt of the paper deliver at the book launch of the Golden Book of Shooting Stars by Nigeria's football encyclopedia and foremost football historian, Mr Kunle Solaja, General Editor, The Sun Newspaper and Soccer stars. Kunle Solaja is now Director of Special Publications,Sun Publishing Limted
He is the CEO and founder of Extra time communication, publisher of the only book on the Nigerian Super Eagles titled "Super Eagles through the ages "
So much about this man whose voice is a voice that must be heard as far World,African and Nigerian football is concerned)


"It is a great pleasure for me to be here today.
Being at this premier modern sporting arena brings nostalgic feelings to me.
As some of you may know, I grew up in Ibadan and the then Liberty Stadium was always a place I visited either to watch matches or to be among my playmates on the practice pitch of this arena.
I can recall some great matches that I have watched at this stadium.

But more significantly, it was at this arena that I first met Ayodele Ademokoya, the author of the book that has magnetised everyone here today.
Three days ago marked exactly five years when a mutual friend, Ganiyu Salman brought the two of us
together to discuss the book being launched today as well as my own book project.
I had been invited by the Oyo State wing of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria to deliver a paper titled “Sports as catalyst for peaceful society”.
Since that December 13, 2009 interaction, Ademokoya and I established a bond. I am therefore happy today that the object of our meeting has matured into reality today.
The book on Shooting Stars has left the drawing board. It is no longer in the pipeline.
We can now all hold the book that has added to the gradually increasing literature on Nigerian sports, especially football.
Ademokoya has therefore contributed his own quota to sports literature in Nigeria.

As most of you may rightly observe, there is a dearth in sports literature in Nigeria despite the great passion that the citizens have for sports, particularly football.
The fans are therefore being starved of vital information on their passion.
It is on that note that I once again congratulate Ademokoya for the painstaking job that has extended the frontier of knowledge on the oldest existing football club and history-making Shooting Stars.
What an occasion to also launch the book. It would have been a great mistake if the author had brought out the book this time last year.

I therefore congratulate the players, the technical crew as well as the generous government of Oyo State who all worked assiduously to ensure that the Shooting Stars are back in the Premier League that they should always rightly belong.

Before I am accused of getting off focus, I return to the object of my being here: the review of  “The Golden Book of Shooting Stars”.
For the records, this is not the first book on the club. There have been two others that I know. Olu Aina of the BCOS wrote “IICC Shooting Stars: Two decades of
Soccer” in which he chronicled the saga of the club. Femi Adesina, my boss at The Sun
Publishing Limited wrote another book on the club: “The Shooting Stars: The Golden Era
of a Soccer Team”.
I can also recall that Chief Lekan Salami, perhaps, the most passionate Nigerian football administrator and fan that I ever know about, had set the ball rolling with his book: “Over Three Decades of Ibadan Soccer History”.

All those publications served as the Biblical John the Baptist to Ademokoya’s book.
The author raised the bar with “The Golden Book of Shooting Stars”. In a classical dramatic style, the author opened with a recall of the early days of football in Ibadan, the base of the subject matter, Shooting Stars.
He later took his readers to the interview he had with one of the legends of Nigerian football, Dejo
Fayemi. Ademokoya revealed that it was the interview he had with Fayemi that actually gave rise to the 255-page book that is being launched today.(16th of December 2014).

The book was not just on Shooting Stars which had transformed severally from WNDC
Shooting Stars to IICC Shooting Stars and now simply 3SC which is an acronym for Shooting Stars Sports Club. The story of the club will not be complete without words on the famous Liberty Stadium which is now renamed after its visionary and executor, the Honourable Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The author took us back in time on the building of the arena and the exploits of Shooting Stars on the alluring turf of the arena which was the pride of Africa.

Ademokoya told the story of how Shooting Stars at their inaugural match in February 1963 beat the Local Government Police side, 13-0 at the Liberty Stadium. The author wrote about the recruitment drive of Chief Lekan Salami to build the team at its infancy.

Ademokoya in Chapter six wrote on the glorious years of the club especially the winning of the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1976 especially the thrilling semi final duel with Zamalek of Egypt and the final duel with the Roger Milla-inspired Tonnere Kalala of Cameroun. The book is spiced with interviews with great sports personalities like Dejo Fayemi (earlier mentioned), General David Jemibewon (rtd),
Segun Odegbami, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Idowu Otubusin, Zion Ogunfehimi and Alan Hawkes, the English coach of the club in 1976.

The latter gave a player by player profile of the victorious 1976 squad.
Of course, the story of the Shooting Stars cannot be complete without the famous “balu balu n’tafin”. This is the sad tale of the failure to win the then Africa Cup of Champions Cup in 1984.
The author writes: “The indefatigable chairman of IICC Shooting Stars Supporters’ Club, the later Alhaji Ganiyu Elekuru a.k.a Baba Eleran, and his colleagues composed and hit the air waves with the song: ‘Balu balu n t’afin o, Balu balu nt’afin o, afin i reran osan o ! Balu balu ntafin’.

This means that blurred vision is a major trait of albinism, an albino does not see in the
afternoon. That raised the hopes of millions of Nigerians that there was nothing to worry about the game against the Egyptians who Baba Eleran compared to albinos who do not
see clearly under scorching sun.  The match was slated for 1:00pm.
In conclusion, the book is a collector’s item. I strongly recommend it for football fans, administrators, coaches among others.

It is hoped that this publication will also ginger the writing of books on other clubs in Nigeria.
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for
your attention.





Sunday 13 March 2016




Frenzy debut with  “MAMA”
by Ayo Ademokoya



The new sensation in the world of hip- hop music Onaiwu Osamede  aka Frenzy Montana has finally dropped the much talked about singles Titled “Mama”  last February 2016.

The song which is now enjoying rave review each time it’s been played on major  radio stations in Abuja, Lagos, Enugu and Ibadan is it’s a a bit different from the usual hip hop theme of girls, boose and money but in appreciation and extolling the virtues of motherhood.

Frenzy, a 21 year old graduate of Geology from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state was on a courtesy visit to Sun entertainment at the midweek s where he showed his gratitude to God almighty for making his dream come true.

“I want to thank Sun newspaper for giving me this huge support and also thank all the radio stations who had been playing my music I promised not to disappoint them.

“The lyrics are not lewd as many music lovers believed hip hop music is all about.
I am a Rap artiste no doubt about that , but when I remember the undying love of my mother, all she had gone through because of me been the only child , I believe mothers all over the world must be celebrated now and always, that my main reason and the motivation for producing that song.

Of course very soon, I’ll be taking rap and hip hop music to another level by hitting the stable with a complete mix-tape album with tracks like “TMC ( the Money Curse”) My testimony, Fear, My City, Type among others” he concluded.

Thursday 10 March 2016



 Aba Yola turns 56,  reveals how Kano Pillar was formed, his greatest moment as the Kano Pillars Chairman..
By Ayo Ademokoya.

The Chiroma of Yola and former Chairman of Kano Pillars, Alhaji Aba Abdulahi Yola who turned 56years today the 10th of March 2016 has said that he will continue to do is best for the country and  his club Kano Pillars till  leaves the planet earth.
Speaking to www.harohkah.blogspot.com.ng this morning in a telephone interview, the former National Sports Commission stalwart believes Kano pillar would come out with a good result against MFM of Lagos in the week 6 of Nigeria Football Proffessional league at the Agege stadium..

Revisiting one of the interview with the Alhaji Yola at his home in Gwarinmpa, Abuja recently,the astutue football administrator revealed how Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima formed the football club named Kano Pillars and how he was instrumental to its registration been the head of Z0onal offices at the National Sports Commission in  1990

 “Many did not know that ive been part of Kano Pillars right from day one, I me since it formation in 1990. There was this particular day Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, founder of Kano Pillar was in Lagos the very last day of registwering the new Nigerian Premier League.
I was the head of the Zonal Sports Office  at The NSC then and alhaji Galadima the then Commissioner for Youth and Sport for Kano state breezed in to my office as usual to say hello to some of us, I mean Alhaji Babayo Shehu, Aljahi Dauda and  Alhaji Sanni Ahmed Toro.

“I was in charge of registering the football clubs then for the newly organized Premier league. I told him (Galadima) that  registration closes that very day. Alhaji Galadima checked his pocket and found out that he didn have enough from he personal money which he used in registering kano Pillars, to complete the registration, he rushed to Babayo Shehu’s office and borrowed some money from him to add up to what he had and that was how Kano Pillars was registered on the very last day registration closes.
Ever since,my life has been Kano Pillars and Kano Pillar is me.

When ask if the aims and objective of government for forming kano Pillars has been met, Alhaji Yola said yes..

“Winning theNigerian Premier League 4 times was a huge achievement for us in Kano,  more so we reached the semifinal of the CAF Champions league in 1999 and till now we are a force to reckon with in the NPFL within its formation in 25 years, that to me is a huge achievement.

 And talking about the most difficult times Alhaji Yola said it was his tenure as the chairman in 2013 he regarded as the most difficult.

“One cannot take it away from the government of the former governor of Kano state and the Presidential aspirant under the umbrella of APC now Senator of the Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ibrahim Kwakwanso who did so much during my tenure as the Chariman of Kano Pillars in 2013.
Then we were confronted with so many problems. The league Management Company banished us from our Kano and were moved around to Lagos, Abuja and Lokoja with about 6 matches to end the league . Oh my God !!! it was a very difficult time for the team as we were expected to win the league back to back that year.

One thing about Kano pillar fans is they do not believe that the Kano Pillar can lose. They always do everything to support the team with their own money and this always moved me to tear. Honestly football is like a religion in Kano.
“Anyway our last match against Enyimab of Aba in Lokoja is one thing I would never for get.
If we lose or draw Enyimba would be the League Champion, so that match was a must win game for us in Lokoja.

About a minute to the end of the match ,someone came to me and said, ‘ its all over, the game is ending in 0-0 draw’. I looked straight into his face and told him boldly that if its by a lone goal, Allah would grant us the day not because of me but because of these passionate fans would have been praying and fasting for the team.

Most of them would wake up by 5am or 4am to pray for Kano pillars so that the problem with the LMC could be resolved, its not Ramadan or any religious fasting ..but when you see these fans ,the love they have for the team .you would be moved to tears for their passion.
To cut a story short, as the man talking to me would turn back the ball was already in the net and the man came back and said what kind of man Im I?

I burst out in tears because Allah did not disappoint my faith in him, you need to see the atmosphere it was frenetic and the governor alos was proud of us, and that was how we became Champions in 2013/14  league season

My team is starving Ikhana.. 
By Ayo Ademokoya 

Coach of Shooting stars of Ibadan, Khadiri Ikhana has cried out to all soccer loving Nigerians especially the media to help appeal to the owners of Oluyole Warriors of shooting stars to please offset 5months salaries owed his players so that the players could be encouraged to put in their best in the ongoing Nigerian professional Football league. .

 Speaking with journalists after the 2:1 win over Giwa FC of Jos, the veteran coach said that he is happy for the result but he doesn't feel he has a team yet.

 "As you can see that I don't have a team yet even though the team is taking shape . 
 We started preparation 10days to the commencement of the league which isn't good enough for us and right now in all departments I've lost at least two players each from the defence to the attack. 

Commenting on the mild drama of the inability of the team to change the torn Jersey of Ogbona, one of his players.. Ikhana said..
" my team is starving, we are lucky to have one Jersey each, two is a luxury for now".


Sun newspaper sports journalist wins Oyo Sports Personality of the year 2015 award.

Ayo Ademokoya, an independent sports journalist with the Sun newspaper and sporting Sun yesterday presented to the management and staff of the Sun newspapers and the Sporting sun the Oyo State Sports Personality of the Year award organized by the Oyo state sports Merit Award and powered by Fresh FM Ibadan on January this year.

Receiving the plaque yesterday in his office, the Deputy Managing Director of the Sun Newspaper, Mr Steve Nwosu says that he has always believed in the potentials of Ayo and pray the almighty God would continue to lift him up from one great height to another.

Gorge Aluo Editor, Daily Sun newspaper, Emma Jemmagah, Editor, weekend Sporting Sports who received the plaque said the company will continue to encouraged excellence and promote anyone associated with the growth of football and the sports industry in general and urge Ayo not to rest on his oars as better things are still coming on his way.

In his response, Ayo Ademokoya who is also an author, online publisher, publisher of two books said he was not even expecting the award to come at that point in time but however the organizers for the recognition.

“I’m elated by this show of love from the Sporting Sun newspaper family in general, I had thought this award would come earlier since I was instrumental to publishing the book on Rashidi Yekini in 2013 and in 2014 produced another book on Shooting stars. Im really grateful to God and to everyone for their supports. 
The annual Sports award  is aimed at promoting excellence and recognizing those who contributed to the growth of the game in Nigeria and Oyo State to be precise.


Pictures shows Ayo Ademokoya with Mr Steve Nwosu, Deputy Managing director, The Sun Publishing limited, Mr Joshua Akanji, MD Sporting Sun, George Aluo, Editor, Sports, Daily Sun Newspaper, Emma Jemaga,Editor, Weekend Sports at the presentation of the plaque to the management of Sun Newspapers yesterday details on today's Sun Newspaper and Sporting Sun