The Sun News On-line

It’s no longer news that Premier League leaders, Kano Pillars secured an impressive 1–1 draw against Niger Tornadoes at the Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna penultimate Saturday. However, that feat may have come at a very huge cost to the management of the club.

A source within the club told Globacom Premier League Splash that the Kano outfit allegedly spent whopping N5.5m to ensure the club secured at least one point from that game against Tornadoes to help them consolidate their leadership position on the Premier League table.

The club management were alleged to have spent a substantial chunk of that amount to ferry not less than 500 fans of the club and top government officials to Minna to ensure the Kadiri Ikhana-led side got enough support away from home.

It was perceived that for Pillars to get a favourable result from Minna last weekend, they needed to get the kind of support they usually get when they play at home at the Sani Abacha Stadium. Therefore, the management decided that no amount was too much to move a large number of their supporters to Minna.

Among the dignitaries that travelled from Kano to Minna on the expense of the state government were the Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. AbdulAzeez Garba Gfasa, Commissioner for Information, Sports and Culture, Barr. Haruna Isa Dederi, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Sports Development, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad Muazu Kawu, State Director of Sports, Alhaji Ibrahim Abba, some members of the State House of Assembly and Chairman of Dala Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars, Ikhana, said that though he travelled to Minna with the target of getting the three points at stake, he nonetheless was happy that his team did not leave the Bako Kontagora Stadium empty-handed at the end of the game.

"I thank God that we were able to get draw in Minna last weekend. We came with the confidence to win the match, but that was the way God wanted it to end. My happiness was that both teams played a good match. I believe you know how football is. As a coach, sometimes you make your plans but things will not work out the way you wanted it.

"However, I thank God for the result because we are still leading in the league and I hope it will continue that way until we lift the trophy," Ikhana said.