Kano Pillars, Keshi Head For Showdown Over Players’ Release

The management of Kano Pillars Football Club are heading for a showdown with the Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi.

Reports from Kano say officials of the club have threatened to either force a postponement of the Federation Cup semi final match between their team and Lobi Stars, or refuse to release their players for national team assignment.

Pillars currently have three players; Papa Idris, Gabriel Rueben and Sambo training with the Super Eagles in Abuja for an international friendly match against Niger Republic.

While Keshi insists that the home-based players in Abuja would be camped for both the Niger friendly tie and next month’s African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Liberia, Pillars officials say they also need their stars for the Federation Cup semi final.

However, it was gathered that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF will soon meet both parties to settle the impending rift.

Meanwhile, as the date for the Federation Cup semi final between Prime FC and defending champions, Heartland FC of Owerri draws near, the chairman  of Osun State Football Association and former board member of Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, has arrived in Ilorin, Kwara state to seek support for Prime FC from Kwara fans.

The game is fixed for Wednesday 15 August, 2012 at the Kwara State Stadium.

The Federation Cup giant killers, who knocked out 6 times NPL champion Enyimba of Aba at the quarter final stage by 2-0, were involved in a turn up game against the John Obuh-led Flying Eagles yesterday in a game they lost by 3-0 with goals coming from Alim andTony Opotu.