7th October, 2012
Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano state on Saturday donated cars and money to seven sports teams, which emerged victorious at national and international competitions during the year.
At a reception held for the teams in Kano, Kwankwaso commended all the teams and pledged the government’s continued support for them.
He announced a donation of a car each for players and officials of Kano Pillars Football Club, who won the 2011/2012 Nigerian Premier League and reaching the semi-finals of the 2012 Federation Cup competition.
The governor also donated N250,000 each to players and officials of Kano Pillars Basketball Club for excelling in the 2011/2012 DSTV/NBBF Premier Basketball League.
The team also won a West African competition in Liberia to qualify for the FIBA-Africa club championship later in the year at Equatorial Guinea.
Kwankwaso further gave N150,000 each to players and officials of four teams which represented Kano State outstandingly at national and international competitions.
These are the Kano Teachers College (KTC), Kwankwasiyya Babes, the Kwankwasiyya Academy and the state scrabble team.
The state Para-soccer team was also honoured with a donation of N100,000 for each player and official.
The governor described the donation as “a token gift in appreciation of outstanding performances” and promised that his administration would continue to support Kano State youths to excel.
“This is why we have made so much efforts to enhance sports development through the establishment of various bodies to identify those with talents that we will nurture to stardom,” he said.
Earlier, the General Manager of Kano Pillars FC, Abba Galadima, had lauded the governor’s moral and financial support for all the teams and his club, especially.
“This moral and financial support really spurred us into doing well and better,” he said.
Galadima then promised that Kano Pillars FC would go on to retain the league title and also win both the Federation Cup and the African Champions League next year.
“We promise to win these, so as to be back here next year for another reception,” he said.