By Ado Salisu
Twelve-time national handball champions, Kano Pillars handball team failed to honour the ongoing 2026 Ardova Handball Premier league due to lack of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf approval.
The championship which is taking place at the Rowe Park Sports Centre in Yaba and the National Institute for Sports gymnasium in Surulere, Lagos attracted teams from across the country.
According to reports, the tournament billed to hold November 7 to 31st, 2026 is expected to produce winners for both male and female categories.
A source further confirmed that the winners for both the male and female categories would represent Nigeria in the upcoming African Handball clubs championship.
The Pyramids City Boys adjudged to be one of the strong clubs as far as handball competitions was concerned in the country was absent to defend and project the good image of Kano.
Some of the players who spoke on condition of anonymity described the absent of Kano Pillars handball team as a disaster and disgrace to a state like Kano.
They called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the new commissioner of youth and sports, Comrade Ibrahim Wayya to as a matter of urgency address the financial constraints facing all the sports teams in the state.
”A small contingent of not more 22 players and coaches, the state government failed to sponsor them. How are we sure the state contingents for the national sports festival will attend the festival in Enugu?,” observers asked.
Meanwhile, in the matches played so far at Lagos, former champions, Plateau Peacocks, winners in 2018, secured a narrow 23-21 victory over Defender Babes, while Rivers Queens defeated Rima Queens 20-17. The games continue tomorrow Tuesday.
It would be recalled that under the present administration in Kano sports has been suffering a lot whenever the state representatives were going out for national tournaments.
With the national sports festival around the corner, there is certainty that Kano contingents may not attend the games scheduled to hold from November 26th to December 11, 2026 in Enugu state.
President Bola Ahmad Tinubu is expected to declare the opening ceremony of the festival open on November 28 where all 36 states and federal capital Territory FCT, Abuja were to assemble for the games.
Efforts made to contact the state commissioner of youth and sports, Comrade Ibrahim Wayya proved abortive.