By Yusuf A Yusuf
As the long-awaited second-leg match between the oldest team in the Premier League, Kano Pillars and the newly promoted team, Maliya Boys, took place at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, it showed that football fans in Kano are getting to understand the language and spirit of sportsmanship..
Former Super Eagles Captain and Kano Pillars Skipper, Ahmed Musa, scored the only goal of the match with a powerful strike from outside the 18-yard box, giving Kano Pillars fc the lead in the 57th minutes of the encounter.
The match ended 1–0 in favour of Kano Pillars and the peaceful atmosphere that prevails throughout the game indicated that hooliganism in sports especially in Kano is gradually becoming a thing of the past.
Despite the ongoing Ramadan Fast, thousands of Kano Pillars fans and their Barau FC counterparts filled up the stadium to witness the encounter between the two Kano Premier teams.
The match which many had expected to be played under intense tension, ended peacefully without any incident from supporters.
Even the centre referees expressed gratitude to Almighty God that the match ended without a single infraction from the fans.
Certainly, sport plays a significant role in engaging youths to shun hooliganism or violence during matches.
Football being one of the most popular sports, provides an opportunity to promote unity among players and fans.
The peaceful conduct by supporters during the Kano Pillars vs Barau FC match demonstrates that football can be used as a tool for promoting peace and tranquility in Kano State.
The significance of the competition is to encourage youths in Kano and across the North-West to shun football-related vandalism and other acts that could threaten peace and unity in the state.
The first leg between Barau FC and Kano Pillars, played behind closed doors at the Sani Abacha Stadium, ended 1–0 in favour of Barau FC.
The emergence of the needed spirit for sportsmanship indicates that football development in the state is expected to remain a tool for maintaining peaceful conduct during home matches.
This development also highlights the need for the government to invest more in sports development by utilizing available resources to promote growth in the sector.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kano State chapter, also played a significant role in creating awareness amongst the youths on the negative effect of sports vandalism and promoting the spirit of sportsmanship in the state.