Pyagbara at it again, as Shooting Stars break 32 year-old Kano Pillars jinx

Posted : 09 April 2024

Taiwo Muritala and Christian Pyagbara's goals were the heroes of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 29 between Kano Pillars FC and Shooting Stars SC as the visitors, Oluyole Warriors, stunned the Sai Masu Gida at their backyard at Sani Abacha Stadium on Monday night.

However, it is noteworthy that Shooting Stars SC's 2-1 win against hosts Kano Pillars took 32 years to come to fruition. The Oluyole Warriors last defeated the Sai Masu Gida in 1992 (32 years ago) at Sabongeri Stadium, Kano, in a game that also ended 2-1, with Shola Akinwale and Pascal Patrick being the goal-scoring heroes of that year. In 1992, Shooting Stars, on CAF Cup engagements, returned directly from Tunisia to Kano to defeat Kano Pillars. They eventually won the maiden CAF trophy donated by Chief MKO Abiola.

In an intense Match Day 29 at Sani Abacha Stadium, the game started with Pillars showing great determination, and they took the lead early on with a goal by their Captain Rabiu Ali in the 2nd minute.

However, Shooting Stars fought back and managed to equalize through Taiye Muritala in the 48th minute. The game remained tightly contested, with both teams giving their all. In the dying moments of the match, Christian Pyagbara scored the winning goal for Shooting Stars in the 90+4th minute, sealing the victory for the visiting team.

Abiodun Ayobami, a former Kano Pillars player now with Shooting Stars, was awarded the SWAN Kano Pop Cola Man of the Match for his exceptional performance throughout the game, presented by the Chairman of Kano Pillars Fans Club, Rabiu Abdullahi, a Lecturer from Sa'adatu Rimi University of Education Kano.

Gbenga Ogunbote, the Technical Adviser of Shooting Stars, praised the NPFL organizers and his players for their performance. He acknowledged the challenge of Pillars players observing fasting, which he believed affected their performance, but he commended them for their quality.

Ogunbote also expressed gratitude for Ayobami's Man of the Match award, stating that it was well-deserved. He thanked the SWAN Kano State Chapter for their fair voting process. With this result, Kano Pillars find themselves in 8th position with 41 points and will face Bendel Insurance in their next match.

Meanwhile, Shooting Stars have climbed to 6th position with 46 points and will host Lobi Stars in their upcoming fixture.

Pyagbara at it again, as Shooting Stars break 32 year-old Kano Pillars jinx

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