BY OUR MAN IN LAGOS
KANO PILLARS secured a vital 2-1 victory over Kun Khalifat FC yesterday, but the real story was the dramatic setting: the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, a temporary ‘home’ where Pillars are serving a sporting BANISHMENT for fan trouble!
Pillars have been forced to play their home fixtures at the Katsina venue following unrest at their true Kano fortress, the Sani Abacha Stadium. And playing on ‘cursed’ ground has not made life easy.
But the 2-1 win saw the club, known as ‘Sai Masu Gida’ (Owners of the House), finally get to grips with their borrowed house.
The drama was all down to veteran maestro Rabiu Ali, who rolled back the years with a match-winning brace to bring a much-needed cheer to the travelling Pillars faithful who made the journey to the makeshift home ground.
The Penalty King
Ali first struck in the 19th minute, finding the net with a cool finish. Kun Khalifat, however, were not intimidated by the hostile atmosphere in the foreign-but-familiar stadium and pegged them back in the 27th minute through Ebuka Nwokorie.
But the turning point came just before the break.
A penalty was awarded, and who else but the Penalty King Rabiu Ali stepped up, holding his nerve on the banishment turf to slot home and make it 2-1 in the 38th minute.
The second half was a cagey affair, with the visitors failing to breach the Pillars defence again.
Despite the crucial win, Kano Pillars remain precariously positioned near the foot of the table, burdened by a previous three-point deduction.
But on a weekend where they should be cowering in a stadium ban, they managed a vital jailbreak win in the most dramatic of circumstances.
The question now is: will the Katsina ground become the new lucky charm for the former champions?
Kano Pillars 2-1 Kun Khalifat FC
Scorers: R. Ali (19′, 38′ pen); E. Nwokorie (27′)
Venue: Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina (Pillars’ ‘Banishment’ Home)
