Players of Kano Pillars/ via Complete Sports
When a team relegates form top flight football, it is often like a fall from grace. This could be said for Nigerian football giants, Kano Pillars following what most football followers have termed a weird season for Sai Masu Gida as they are fondly called.
Toyosi Afolayan takes a quick look at some of the factors responsible for the slip as well as the three other club playing in the Nigeria National League next season.
The four-time league champions, Kano Pillars grabbed the headlines a couple of times during the 2021/2022 season mostly for the wrong reason. They gave themselves the boot by receiving multiple fines and having their points deducted, which led to their relegation.
Pillars struggles began with a setback from the state government failing to complete the renovation work on their traditional home ground, the Sani Abacha Stadium, before the commencement of the 2022 NPFL season.
Pillars first points deduction came as a result of their fans’ voilent conduct against Katsina United.
The second one was due to the shocking act of their Chairman, Surajo Yahaya (Now Expelled), who hit an assistant referee moments after the Dakada equalised late in the second half of a match day 31 encounter.
Pillars won 15 games, drew 6, lost 17 and ended up with 48 points.
Barring the points deductions, Pillars might have ended up with 54 points if the points deducted were added to their final standing.
MFM FC had a terrible season, From management to players and technical staff’s subpar performance throughout the recently concluded season, all played a part in their going down.
Their woes were compounded when they got banished from the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The team was then ordered by the LMC, to play its home games at Ijebu-ode following the breach the NPFL Framework & Rules in their Matchday 26 fixture vs Rangers.
MFM’s supporters & officials encroached onto the field of play & attacked the centre referee.
Heartland FC narrowly missed out on safety as they finished one point behind 16th placed Shooting Stars SC. The Imo based outfit finished with 13 wins, 8 draws, 17 loses and 47 points.
Katsina United almost guaranteed a spot in next season’s NPFL but goal difference was a deciding between them and 16th placed Shooting Stars SC.
They ended up with 15 wins, 3 draws, 20 loses and 48 points.
