Kano Pillars Basketball Club, one of Nigeria’s most successful basketball teams, has been plunged into crisis following reports that a large number of players have abandoned the club’s training camp over alleged poor welfare and unpaid entitlements.
The development comes at a crucial stage of the season, with the former league champions preparing for the second phase of the Nigerian Premier Basketball League, scheduled to commence in Minna on 17 June 2026.
Sources close to the team disclosed that nearly 70 per cent of the squad had left camp in frustration over what they described as prolonged neglect by the Kano State Sports Commission.
Despite securing qualification for the next stage of the league after an impressive outing during the Savannah Conference in Jos, the players are reportedly yet to receive allowances and other financial benefits.
Investigations further revealed that the club allegedly relied on borrowed funds to participate in the first phase of the league after the expected release of funds from the state government failed to materialise.
A source familiar with the situation said the players had lost confidence in the possibility of an immediate resolution.
“As of Sunday, June 7, most of the players had already left camp because they no longer believe anything will change before the next phase of the competition,” the source stated.
One of the affected players, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented the situation. “It is very unfortunate that only a few days before the second phase of the league in Minna, we have not received our allowances and other entitlements. We have also not made adequate preparations for the competition,” he said.
The player described the current state of affairs as a sharp contrast to the club’s glorious past. “Kano Pillars is one of the biggest basketball clubs in Nigeria. The club has won several league titles, performed creditably in the West African Zone Three qualifiers and represented Nigeria at the FIBA Africa Clubs Championship. It is painful that we are now struggling to prepare properly for domestic competitions.”
Concerned stakeholders have called on Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to urgently intervene and provide lasting solutions to the challenges confronting the club and sports development in the state.
However, the Acting Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Dr Murtala Musa Dagumawa, denied knowledge of any mass player exodus.
Speaking when contacted, Dagumawa said he had recently spoken with the club’s basketball officials and had not received any report suggesting players had abandoned camp.
“I just spoke with the chairman of the basketball team and he did not tell me anything about that. I have also spoken with the secretary and nobody informed me that players had left camp,” he said.
“I do not know where the report is coming from. Nobody has told me that any player has left camp. If such a thing happened, the chairman would certainly be aware of it.”
When pressed on allegations of unpaid allowances and bonuses, Dagumawa declined to comment directly.
“The issue is that I have not heard that anybody has left camp. That is all I can say,” he added.
The unfolding situation has cast doubt over Kano Pillars’ preparations for the second phase of the league, with many supporters fearing that the club’s ambitions this season could be severely affected if the crisis is not resolved quickly.
