Although the 2019 Nigeria Professional Football League season which kicked off on November 3 enters week 5 this weekend, some clubs including the formidable ones like Kano Pillars, Nasarawa United, Akwa United and Heartland are yet to taste victory.
Consequently, such clubs are already romancing relegation even as their contemporaries like Plateau United, Lobi Stars, MFM, Enyimba and FC IfeanyiUbah are already leading the chase for the available continental tickets.
For Kano Pillars who are four-time winners of the domestic league, a run of three matches at their fortress, the Sani Abacha stadium is a rude shock and completely unacceptable.
The ‘masu gida’ boys’ ordeal began on the opening day of the league when they were easily forced to a 0-0 draw by visiting Rivers United.
Due to the 2012 AFCON qualifying match played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, the NPFL Week 2 fixture between Akwa Starlets and Kano Pillars was shifted.
However, Pillars played their second home match against Lobi Stars and it was another disappointing outing for the former champions as they were beaten 1-0 by the 2018 winners of the NPFL.
The excruciating loss to Lobi Stars demanded some drastic measures as the management of the club summoned an emergency meeting on the way forward. Expectedly, the technical crew headed by Coach Musa Ibrahim was handed three matches to turn things around.
Unfortunately, things got from bad to worse for the club as neighbours, Jigawa Golden Stars who are also gasping for breath in the league inflicted another 1-0 defeat on Pillars on Wednesday in one of the midweek matches.
Going by their profile, Kano Pillars are definitely under pressure to arrest their free-fall. Their pathetic condition is made worse by the fact that they are presently playing their home matches behind closed doors.
It will be recalled that during the 2019 NPFL Super 6 in Lagos, irate fans believed to be supporters of Kano Pillars unleashed mayhem on other fans and match officials at the Agege township Stadium in Lagos.
Enugu Rangers had come from behind to force their darling club to a 1-1 draw and that didn’t go down well with the fans who believed the day’s match officials were biased in their officiating.
Following their unsporting behaviour, the League Management Company, LMC, promptly suspended the captain of Kano Pillars, Rabiu Ali whose behaviour allegedly triggered the violence for 12 matches, fined Kano Pillars N8m and ordered them to play their first three home matches of the 2019/2020 season without their teeming fans.
The punitive decision by the LMC has so far taken a great toll on Kano Pillars who are used to playing before their vociferous supporters.
Also, they are without their talismanic captain Ali who over the years has propelled the team to resounding victories, particularly at the Sani Abacha stadium.
However, tomorrow is an opportunity for Kano Pillars to redeem themselves as they play host to third-placed Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.
Their week 5 fixture against the ‘elephants’ of Bauchi will be Pillars’ last home match without their boisterous supporters. Thus, they will have to endure another 90 minutes of football action without their well known tonic.
While Pillars will be going into Sunday’s contest without the usual swagger, their opponents are still basking in the euphoria of their recent 3-1 rout of Delta Force in Gombe.
Furthermore, Wikki Tourists are one of the three clubs that have so far recorded away victories in the 2019 NPFL season. They defeated neighbours Nasarawa United 1-0 in week two.
Without doubt, Pillars on the current form have a mountain to climb but Coach Ibrahim Musa is optimistic of victory over the Tourists from Bauchi.
“It is quite unfortunate our results so far have not reflected our performance. We have not been able to score and that is our major setback.
“Already we have discussed and decided that our revival must start against Wikki Tourists. We are quite aware of their performance this season but we are ready for them,” said Musa in a chat with Trust Sports.
Pillars’ striker Hassan Adamu also shared in the optimism of his coach as he said Wikki Tourists won’t escape defeat in Kano on Sunday.
According to him, the players are not happy with their present position on the table and have unanimously resolved to arrest the decline.
“Our match against Wikki Tourists is a must-win. We respect them but we won’t allow anything to stand between us and our first victory.
“We are indeed missing our fans but we have to face the task before us. I am always ready to give my best performance,” said the former Kwara United and Nasarawa United player.
Wikki Tourists’ Mustapha Ibrahim said Pillars are like wounded lions so his team will approach them with utmost caution.
“It will be a tricky one. Everybody knows that Pillars are in a very tight position so they are wounded and desperate to free themselves.
“However, our continental ambition is not negotiable so we would fight for the maximum points when we come up against them on Sunday,” he assured.
Nasarawa United is another big team that is finding life tough in the ongoing season. Just like Pillars, they are aiming for their first victory this weekend.
While Pillars are fortunate to be playing for their first victory at home, the ‘solid miners’ will be away at Akwa United.
A look at the performance of Akwa United so far shows that the ‘promise keepers’ are also struggling and wouldn’t want to spare their opponents from Lafia.
Both teams drew their last home matches. Katsina United held Akwa United to 0-0 draw in Uyo while Nasarawa United were forced to 1-1 draw in Lafia by table toppers, Plateau United.
Head-to head, Akwa United who have drawn three matches and lost one away at Enyimba are favoured to win against Nasarawa United who have lost three matches and drawn one.
Nasarawa United’s inspirational player, Abubakar Lawal told Trust Sports that victory in Uyo is still possible.
He said they were unlucky to draw their last home match against Plateau United.
“It is a pity we are in this situation. Our slow start to the season is affecting us.
“Once you don’t start strongly, you are bound to face some bad moments. We are however not giving up yet on our ambition to return to the continent.
“We shall face Akwa United with a positive mindset. We lost to Wikki Tourists at home so we can also win away against Akwa United.
“It may look like an impossible task but we are determined to get a good result in Uyo,” said the former Flying Eagles player.
Apart from Pillars, Nasarawa United and Akwa United, Heartland who lost scandalously against second-placed Lobi Stars on Wednesday is also searching for their first victory of the season.
They will host Jigawa Golden Stars who recorded their first victory against Pillars on Wednesday in Kano. Jigawa’s lone victory over Pillars has placed them above their hosts who have drawn two matches.
While the quartet of Pillars, Nasarawa United, Akwa United and Heartland would be aiming for their first victories, the trio of Plateau United, Lobi Stars and MFM will have their eyes on fourth victories to maintain their top three positions.
Plateau United will face the full wrath of Delta Force in Asaba, MFM will be guests of Abia Warriors in Umuahia while Lobi Stars will travel to Nnewi to battle FC IfeanyiUbah.
Lobi Stars on nine points with superior goal difference are breathing down the neck of Plateau United who currently leads the table with 10 points.
Elsewhere, Rangers whose misery continued on Wednesday with a 1-2 loss at Rivers United will host Akwa Starlets in Enugu, impressive Warri Wolves host Rivers United in Warri, Adamawa United will travel down to Aba to battle Enyimba while Katsina United will attempt to dim Sunshine Stars of Akure at the Muhammdau Dikko Stadium in Katsina.
