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By Abiodun Adewale.
Four-time Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Kano Pillars, and their northwest rivals, Katsina United, have now turned their attention to the Nigeria National League as the second-tier division prepares to kick off next month, Th PUNCH reports.
Both Pillars and Katsina were relegated from the NPFL last season and were also reported to be looking for a backdoor entrance back into the topflight league, following speculations of buying the NPFL slot of private club, Doma United, who were promoted to the NPFL last season.
But all that was laid to rest as the Gombe club are now campaigning in the 2023 NPFL, while Pillars and Katsina have also been grouped ahead of the new NNL season.
Katsina are grouped in the Northern Conference A2 along with City FC, NAF FC, FWC Champions, all in Abuja, as well as Green Berets of Kaduna and Jigawa Golden Stars of Dutse.
Pillars are in Group A3 with Kebbi United, Sokoto United and Malumfashi FC of Katsina.
Following the NNL’s announcement for the release of fixtures on Tuesday, Pillars took to their official Twitter account stating, “The quest to return to where we belong is now.”
The Chairman of Katsina United, Abdulsamad Badamosi, also vowed that the club would bounce back.
“We will start life in the NNL with lots of positivity, having almost all the players here has given us confidence,” he said.
The NNL secretariat, however, postponed the draw and release of fixtures scheduled for Wednesday in Abuja due to logistics.
The 43 teams for the upcoming season have been paired into eight groups as the NNL will adopt what it calls a super abridged format for the season.
However, the league body hasn’t changed the start date of the new season from March 3.