Nigeria Premier League: Pillars Maintain Lead

Kano Pillars yesterday barely hung on to top spot in the Nigeria Premier League on a day marred by crowd trouble in Gombe and Bauchi.

Pillars stopped a battling Rising Stars 2-1 at home to stay top of the championship on 36 points as Enugu Rangers and Dolphins all failed to topple the 2008 champions from the summit.

However, Enyimba enjoyed the biggest move among the front runners as they leap-frogged champions Dolphins into third place after a 2-0 home win over Kwara United.

Rangers, who were forced to a 1-1 draw in an ill-tempered tie at Wikki, Enyimba and Dolphins, who drew 1-1 in Kaduna, are all on 34 points.

The Week 22 matches were marred by crowd trouble in at least two match venues; Gombe and Bauchi.

Even though Gombe won with virtually the last kick of the game, the home fans took the laws into their hands and attacked visiting Shooting Stars.

The Ibadan club were held hostage at the stadium long after the game amid claims that striker Raheem Owolabi was stabbed in the arm.

“It was hell in Gombe. I have never witnessed such in my life,” a shaken Jubril Arowolo reported to MTNFootball.com

“They held us hostage for 20 minutes. I and some officials were attacked.

“In fact, they damaged our video camera because they wanted to collect the tape as we had captured how one of their fans stabbed Raheem Owolabi on the arm.”

NPL executive secretary Tunji Babalola said he is yet to be informed of the incident in Gombe.

In Bauchi, the fans too did not take kindly to a home draw against title-chasing Rangers.

“The game was marred by many stoppages because of crowd trouble, the fans wanted their team to win by all means,” said Rangers spokesman Foster Chime, who reported that Technical Director Innocent Obiekwo was manhandled.

Champions Dolphins again fell short of moving to the top of the standings as they held hosts Kaduna United to a 1-1 draw.

The home team scored first through Emmanuel Ambrose in the 58th minute and were coasting to a home win before winger Johnson Olewezi equalised for Dolphins with a stunning shot from the edge of the box in stoppage time.

Dolphins forward Emma Nwachi said it was an important point for them in their quest to retain their championship.

“It was a good result for us and boosted our chances of retaining our trophy. We will build on this in our next game,” Nwachi said.

At the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, Ocean Boys defeated Niger Tornadoes 1-0 courtesy Ebitimi Agogo’s 21st minute strike to boost their chances of survival.

Fellow strugglers Jigawa Golden Stars also defeated Sharks 2-1 in Hadejia.

Jigawa opened scoring after half an hour through their leading scorer Bala Mohammed, who has now netted seven goals.

Hope Fiebriesima equalised for Sharks in the 50th minute, while Chukwudi John netted the winner towards the end of the game.

Jigawa team manager Dodo Isa said, “It was a good game for us. We deserved the three points. Sharks are no small team and that tells you we did well to beat them.”

ABS FC and Warri Wolves settled for a barren draw in Ilorin, while Akwa United continued their impressive run with a 2-1 win over visiting Lobi Stars.

Ini Akpan scored a brace for Akwa as Seriki Audu scored Lobi’s consolation goal.

Akpan has now four goals to his credit.