Glo premier league winners, Kano Pillars are to kiss the league diadem on Sunday in Aba where they are billed to play Enyimba in one of the last pairings of the season.
Organisers of the league, League Management Company (LMC) has finalized arrangement for a colorful presentation ceremony immediately after the Enyimba, Pillars match whose result cannot change anything . Win or lose in Aba, Pillars are already guaranteed of the crow.
Pillars emerged league champions after last weekend’s 4-0 bashing of Nembe City. The win saw them garnering a total of 65 points, four clear points ahead of Enyimba who are on 61 after the away draw they (Enyimba) secured against Dolphins last weekend.
It would be noted that what Enyimba needed last weekend away in Port Harcourt against Dolphins was an outright victory. Had Enyimba won in the Garden City, then the Aba game against Pillars would have been the decider. But as it stands now, Pillars are strolling into Aba to enjoy themselves and return home with the trophy which they are winning back to back for the third consecutive season.
LMC’s media consultant, Harry Iwuala confirmed yesterday that the Enyimba stadium will come alive Sunday with the coveted Glo trophy.
“Pillars are getting the trophy right there at Aba after their match against Enyimba and we intend to make it a colorful one,” Iwuala said.
LMC will however keep a close tab on the other games, especially the Heartland versus Bayelsa tie at the Dan Anyiam stadium, Owerri and the Gombe, Abia Warriors clash in Gombe. While Gombe need a win to escape relegation, a victory for Warriors will see them finish on the top bracket for a continental ticket. Bayelsa on their part must get a result in owerri to avoid joining their Nembe City brothers on the painful journey to the less fancied lower division.
Title sponsor of the Nigerian Premier League, Globacom, has congratulated Kano Pillars Football Club for winning the 2013/2014 Glo Premier League.
Kano Pillars club has now won the title for the third consecutive time.
Pillars emerged champions after thrashing Nembe by four goals to nil last week-end, amassing 65 points while the closest rival, Enyimba of Aba garnered 61 points. With 4 points ahead of the pack, the league standing will not be effected even if Pillars lose the last match and Enyimba wins during the final matches coming up this weekend.
Globacom, in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday congratulated the Kano-based team for winning the Premier League for the third time consecutively, having previously emerged the league champions during the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 league seasons.
The company commended the players, coaches and management of the team for its hard work and tenacity which has seen it dominate the Glo Premier League in the last three years, adding that the team should make football loving Nigerians happy by going all out to win the next edition of CAF African Champions League.
“We call on the management of Kano Pillars to start preparation in earnest for the CAF Champions League in order to perform brilliantly during the continental championship” Glo Added
Globacom also commended the League Management Company (LMC) for its focussed organisation of the league, urging them to keep the flag flying.
“We wish to congratulate the LMC on the successful completion of the 2013/2014 league season, we look forward to a more competitive 2014/2015 season as the LMC gradually moves to restore the glory of Glo Premier League,” Globacom said.
“We equally congratulate the club officials, players, referees and fans for their professionalism which has seen the league progressing weekly without glitches.
We also commend the Nigeria Football Federation for supporting the LMC and creating the enabling environment which has led to the ascendancy of the League”, the statement added.
‘’As we look forward to next season, we wish to commend the 20 club sides that participated in the out-going season for the sportsmanship that characterised their matches and also welcome the new clubs that will be joining the premier league in the coming season’’, the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the Glo Premier league will be rounded off this weekend as the clubs lock horns in the final match of the season. Champions, Pillars FC of Kano will be guests of runners up, Enyimba in Aba. Bayelsa will be away to Heartland in Owerri as relegated Crown Football Club of Ogbomoso host Akwa United while Taraba visits Sharks in Port Harcourt.
Gombe United will be home to Abia Warriors in a game that the hosts “must win” to stay afloat and Nasarawa United will attempt to subdue Warri Wolves in Lafia to appease their home fans for missing out on the trophy. Rangers will also aim to compound the woes of relegated Kaduna United as the Enugu side goes up North while El Kanemi Warriors host Sunshine Stars in Kano. Relegated Nembe City will host Giwa FC while Dolphins of Portharcourt will be guests of Lobi Stars in the last game of the final day.
