Sports
NPFL Transfer Update: Pillars unveil Chiedozie, Mukhtar at Ancient Cultural Sites
While the FIFA Club World Cup was seizing all the global football limelight, former Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Kano Pillars made its own quiet statement, unveiling a new players in iconic cultural settings of an ancient textile market and a 15th century former royal residence.
Pillars Media Director, Isma’eel Abba Tangalashi took to social media pages of the club to announce the unveiling of a number of players in unusual locations with no links with football.
“We unveiled our new central defender, Mukhtar Muhammed from El-Kanemi Warriors, at the historic Gidan Makama, a 15th-century Royal residence turned museum that stands as a proud symbol of Kano’s rich cultural heritage”, Tangalashi wrote.
On the heels of Mukhtar’s unveiling, the club also posted the arrival of Rangers forward, Chiedozie Jude Okorie. His move from a legacy club from one geopolitical region to another legacy club in a far region easily caught the eyes.
“It’s always been my dream to play for one of the biggest clubs in Nigeria and it’s an honour for me to join such a historic club”, was a quick response from Okorie to the Kano Pillars media team, referring to Pillars once dreaded stranglehold on the NPFL title for years.
Okorie is not just any player, he understands the art of making impact within the context of his profession and who to associate with. While Rangers ranks amongst the big clubs with pedigree, Okorie is also interested in big name players.
“I want to help bring back the glory of the club. I believe that playing alongside big names like Ahmed Musa, Rabiu Ali and Shehu Abdullahi will definitely help me achieve my dream of lifting the league title with this great club”, he submitted as an added motivation for making the long haul to Kano from Enugu.
In a yet another significant intent to promote the cultural heritage of the ancient Kano City through football, Tangalashi had also announced, “Watch as we unveil our new center forward, Chiedozie Jude Okorie (signed from Rangers Int’l), at Kano’s historic Kurmi Market founded in the 15th century by Muhammad Rumfa as a major Trans-Saharan trade hub.
He went on to explain that Kurmi is the Kano people indigenous Hausa language word form Forest.
Okorie, a graduate of Godfrey Okoye University, joined Rangers from a Nationwide League One (NLO) team, Ingas Fc. He would go on to score four goals for Rangers in his first season, a d also win the title with the Flying Antelopes in that debut season.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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