Kano Pillars Confirms It Is Negotiating With Ex-Nigeria National Team Coach

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) giants, Kano Pillars has confirmed that it has started negotiation with former national junior team (Under-20) coach, Manu Garba.

AllNews reports that Pillars in a statement released on Saturday disclosed that Garba is being considered because he possesses CAF A licencing "which is the benchmark regarding coaching on the continent".

Reports on October 1st had indicated that Garba is in talks with Pillars to become their new technical adviser.

In the interim, Sai Masu Gida seem to have confirmed that move.

The Northern Nigerian-based club are participating in the upcoming 2020/2021 CAF Confederation cup, and "no one among its present technical crew has CAF A licencing".

Kano Sports Commissioner sets up 3-man committee to recommend top-class coach for Pillars

Kano state commissioner of sports and youths development, Kabiru Ado Lakwaya has now set up a 3-man committee to come up with modalities on how Kano Pillars will fulfill the Confederation of African Football (CAF) obligations on technical issues for the upcoming CAF Confederation cup.

The commissioner announced the committee members in a meeting with some stakeholders on the way forward that will aid the Sai Masu Gida in this season’s continental assignment.

The committee has one week to submit its report, AllNews understands.

It has Kano state football Association Chairman, Alhaji Dr. Sharif Rabi’u Inuwa Ahlan as chairman; and senior special assistant to Kano state Governor on sports matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Mu’azzam, and Chairman of Kano Pillars FC, Alhaji Surajo Shaaibu Jambul as members.

The commissioner said the committee was mandated to suggest the way forward on the issue of a coach who would lead the team to the continent as CAF said it is mandatory for every team that will feature on the continent in this year's CAF club competitions to parade a coach with CAF A licence.

Kabiru Ado Lakwaya said the state government would not fold its arm and keep quiet on any rules that are guiding the activities of football from the national to international levels which he said Pillars must fulfil all the requirements without any sentiment or bias.

According to Lakwaya, the committee is expected to find out what are the necessary criteria that CAF put on ground on who should lead the technical team of each participating clubs during the 2020/2021 CAF Confederation cup and to suggest the coach with vast experience that has CAF A licences that would ultimately steer the Sai Masu Gida to glory.

Thus, the commissioner urged the current technical adviser of the club, Ibrahim Musa to accept and work alongside anybody that will be chosen.

Furthermore, the commissioner said a coach with CAF A licencing that is expected to be employed is a necessity but not to dump the current head coach of the club - contrary to the rumours making rounds.

He advised all sports stakeholders in the state to maintain the existing cordial relationship between them for the promotion of Kano Pillars FC and sporting activities as a whole in the state.

Lakwaya also warned people to avoid spreading rumours that the management of the club or some government officials are witch-hunting somebody’s job in the club and reaffirmed that the issue of football is not about indigene but is about who deserved it more.

On his part, the chairman of the club Alhaji Shaaibu Jambul thanked the Commissioner for calling for the meeting and assured his management’s support at all times to any move that would take the four-time league champions to the next level.

The meeting had in attendance, special adviser to the state Governor on sports, Alhaji Kabiru Baita; senior special assistant to the state Governor on sports, Alhaji Ibrahim Mu’azzam; permanent secretary, ministry of sports and youths development, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Sagagi.

Others are Kano state football Association chairman, Alhaji Dr. Sharif Rabiu Inuwa aka Ahlan and board members of Kano Pillars FC.

READ ALSO: NPFL: Kano Pillars React To Report They Took Away Competitor's Star Player

It would be recalled that the management of Kano Pillars FC has since commenced negotiation with Manu Garba, a former national U-20 coach, the Flying Eagles, for the club's top job considering that the club is among the four that would represent Nigeria in the 2020/2021 continental football and no one among its present technical crew has CAF A licencing which is the benchmark regarding coaching on the continent.