The chairman of Kano Pillars fans club, Bashir Idris Muazu, has said he is working closely with the leadership of Katsina United fans club to put a stop to the unhealthy relationship between supporters of the two clubs.
It will be recalled that after the NPFL week 15 fixture between the two neighbours ended in 1-1 draw, fans of the two clubs engaged one another in a free for all fight leading to hefty fines from the LMC. Muazu, who spoke to Daily Trust on the unfortunate incident said everything is being done to end such confrontations. He said “We are doing our best to put a stop to this unfortunate development. Before the start of the season, we first held a joint meeting in Kano where we all resolved to support our clubs without resorting to any form of unsporting behaviours.
“Although it was not possible for us to hold another meeting in Katsina before the league started, we were able to attend Katsina United’s home match against Jigawa Stars. “Before the kick-off, we exchanged jerseys and carried solidarity placards round the stadium soliciting for peace. “The message was that we are brothers so there is no need to fight whenever we are playing.
Unfortunately what we tried to prevent happened again.” Muazu, however, said the executive committees of the two supporters clubs are not going to relent in sensitizing their members on the need for them to embrace peace. “We are not going to fold our hands. We would continue to dialogue for lasting peace. What is happening is not good for football and imagine of the two states. We must put a stop to it. “The most unfortunate thing is that most of the crises we have witnessed at our matches are instigated by hooligans who are not our members.
“At the end of the first stanza, we are going to organise another meeting and we would address a press conference to tell the whole world that our supporters have shunned violence,” he said.
(Text, courtesy of Daily Trust)