Ado Salisu
Fresh concerns have emerged over the state of Kano Pillars Basketball Club, with reports indicating that about 70 percent of the team’s players have allegedly abandoned camp over unpaid allowances and poor welfare conditions.
The development comes despite the club’s successful qualification for the next stage of the Nigerian Premier Basketball League organized by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
Investigations revealed that the team, which secured a place in the second phase of the league after a commendable performance in Jos, Plateau State, is currently facing a severe financial crisis ahead of the competition scheduled to begin in Minna, Niger State, on June 17, 2026.
Sources close to the club disclosed that players became frustrated over the non-payment of allowances and other entitlements, prompting many of them to leave the camp and return to their various destinations.
According to a source, the situation has worsened in recent weeks with no clear indication of when outstanding payments would be settled.
“It is unfortunate that just days before the second phase of the league in Minna, we are yet to receive our allowances and other entitlements, not to mention making adequate preparations for the competition,” the source said.
The source further alleged that the club had to rely on borrowed funds to participate in the first phase of the league in Jos due to the non-release of funds by the state government.
He lamented that the current situation is a sharp contrast to the club’s glorious past, noting that Kano Pillars Basketball Club had previously won several national league titles and represented Nigeria successfully in regional and continental competitions.
“Kano Pillars has won several league trophies in Nigeria and excelled in the West Africa Zone 3 qualifiers as well as the FIBA Africa Clubs Championship in the past. It is disheartening that we can no longer prepare adequately even for the Savannah Conference,” he added.
The source appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to urgently intervene and address the challenges facing the club, warning that the crisis could affect the team’s performance in the upcoming league phase.
When contacted, the Acting Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Dr. Murtala Musa Dagumawa, acknowledged that funds had not yet been released but expressed optimism that the situation would soon be resolved.
Dagumawa, however, said he was unaware of reports that players had deserted the camp, explaining that the commission had not received any such information from the club’s management.
“I am not aware that any player has left the camp because the commission is always in touch with the club secretary regarding the welfare and situation of players, and no such report has been brought to our attention,” he stated.
The crisis has raised concerns among basketball stakeholders, who fear that inadequate funding and poor welfare conditions could undermine the club’s chances of success in the forthcoming stage of the league.