By Abdulgafar Oladimeji.
Katsina state commissioner of youths and sports, Sani Aliyu Danlami has decried the unhealthy football rivalry between fans of Kano Pillars and their neighbors , Katisna United. Calling for an end to the acts of football hooliganism and fracas between the fans.
Danlami in an exclusive interview in his office at the state secretariat in Katsina on Tuesday said “ football is a joint venture, it is a family affair, Kano and Katsina state, we are one.
The Katsina State commissioner further said
“we are bound by so many developmental factors, so therefore it is shameful that our team cannot travel to Kano and stay back in Kano after a football match.
Convert Kano Pillars Stadium to Sabongari Market Stalls-Nuhu Indabo
“it is also awful that whenever Kano Pillars will feature against Katsina United and vice versa, everywhere will be enveloped in tension, hooliganism takes over the fun anytime Pillars and Katisna United would meet.
“I am appealing to Kano Pillars players and their fans to note that from today the hostilities are over, the fans should forget the past, let us come together to build a new future for the development of football in Kano and Katsina state.” Danlami appealed.
It could be recalled that Violence in match venues which has been a long-standing issue in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) reared its ugly head again in the match day 15 of the 2020 season between Katsina United and Kano Pillars on Wednesday, January 16, 2020.
Host Katsina United were held to a 1-1 draw by Pillars who first took the lead through Seun Adelani Yusuf before Tasiu Lawal leveled for the home side in the 44th minute.
it was learnt that it was after the game at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium that some unruly fans of the home side attacked Kano Pillars fans.
The Kano Pillars players and officials were held hostage at the stadium for two hours due to the attack from some fans of Katsina United.
It has been confirmed that several members of the Pillars travelling party have been hospitalised with injuries while police had to escort the visiting players, officials and fans back home.
Kano Pillars released photos of the attack on their Twitter account while the chairman of the club Alhaji Surajo confirmed that no lives were lost during the attack and also confirmed the identities of the four fans that were hospitalised
