Kano Pillars Target Victory In Kaduna

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Kano Pillars do not only want to get the three points at stake tomorrow at neighbours Kaduna United in the opening game of the new Nigerian league season, but they want to do so in fine style.

“We will go into this game very positive, we want to win in style,” Pillars coach, Salisu Yusuf, told MTNFootball.com.  “We are known as a team with style and we have used the long close season to perfect this style.

“And our main objective is to go on to win the league again. It will be a tougher season, but after finishing as runners-up this past season, the only way we can show that we have improved now is to win the championship.”  Last season, both teams drew 1-1 in Kaduna with Pillars taking the maximum points in the reverse fixture in Kano courtesy of a 1-0 win.

The Federation Cup winners, Kaduna United are in tact from last season, when they finished 10th on 52 points from 38 matches, but have not been able to attract big stars in the close season. However, in the absence of injured stars skipper Papa Idris and cup hero Bola Bello, the new signings have struggled to gel with the old players.

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Two top-rated Ghanaian players failed to sign for the team after negotiations broke down. They lost pre-season games to the likes of Zamfara United and newly promoted JUTH FC. They were also beaten on penalties on Sunday in a drab Charity Cup final by Enyimba with petite left winger Femi Balogun the only sparkle in a tentative display.

Pillars finished runners-up last season and have done very well to hold on to their best players with only winger Ahmed Musa and midfielder Solomon Okpako the biggest departure to Greece, while first choice goalkeeper Sani Haliru is serving a six-month ban.

Last term, Musa accounted for 18 of the team’s 48 goals and it is now left for the likes of Victor Namo and Gambo Mohammed to fill the vacuum. “We will miss Musa for his goals and pace, but last season we should we could still live without him after he stayed away from the team first on national team duty and also when he was injured,” insisted coach Yusuf.

Coach Salisu Yusuf has made some shrewd signings including Enyimba defensive midfielder star Gabriel Reuben, who is regarded as a direct replacement for Okpako. Other top signings include highly rated Cameroonian right fullback Isaac Hele and Manir Ubale from Bayelsa United.

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