Sports
Club Owners Expels Kano Pillars Chairman Indefinitely For Assault On Ref
The Football Club Owners Association of Nigeria (Club Owners) have placed an indefinite suspension on the chairman of Kano Pillars FC Yahaya Surajo over his unsportsmanlike behaviour during the rescheduled NPFL Match Day 31 between Kano Pillars FC and Dakkada FC in Kano Thursday.
In a viral video made available to the Association, Alh. Surajo was seen to have physically assaulted the Assistant Referee (AR1) in the match, which the Club Owners described as unfortunate, unacceptable and a bad representation of what the Association stands for.
“The Club Owners have therefore placed the Yahaya Surajo on indefinite suspension from all activities of the Association forthwith pending the outcome of a detailed investigation into the unfortunate incident.”
In a press statement issued by the the Executive Secretary of the Association Alloy Chukwuemeka, in Abuja revealed that, Club Owners comprise of astute football Administrators who have distinguished themselves in several fields of human endeavours with the expected high level of discipline in the management of their various clubs, hence the action of Surajo did not represent his status as a member of the Association.
The Association frowned at his behaviour which has brought the game to disrepute, coming less than 48hours after a joint meeting of the LMC and Club Owners Exco had warned against acts capable of causing negative image to the NPFL.
The Chairman of the Association Barrister Isaac Danladi has therefore directed that the Kano Pillars boss Surajo would face a disciplinary committee to defend his action or otherwise, before he could be re-admitted into the Club Owners Association.
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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