Former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Champions, Kano Pillars Football Club will now compete at the seventh edition of Ogunjobi Gold Cup Pre-season Tournament after they replaced Abia Warriors.
Nigeria’s foremost pre-season tournament is set to begin on Thursday, August 29 through Saturday, September 7, 2019, in Ilorin, Kwara State and Sai Masu Gida will now be among the competing teams after the withdrawal of Abia Warriors who were hitherto billed to attend.
Abia Warriors reportedly withdrew from the tournament due to circumstances beyond their control and this opened the door for Sai Masu Gida to be reinstated into the biennial tournament restricted to teams playing in the three-tier leagues in Nigeria.
The General Coordinator of the preseason tournament Tunde Shammsudeen who made this disclosure said the organizing committee of the event has taken the withdrawal of Abia Warriors in good fate and that they will still be considered in future tournaments.
“We have been consulting with all the teams we invited, but Abia Warriors won’t be participating due to unwarranted circumstances,” Shamsudeen told the media team of the pre-season tournament.
“We understand the teams’ position and make sure that in future tournaments we will give them the opportunity to participate. We were unable to resist Kano Pillars when they showed interest again to be part of the modest Preseason tournament in the Country.”
Having replaced Abia Warriors, the Aiteo Cup champions will play in Group B alongside former Gold Cup champion Lobi Stars, Remo Stars, Plateau United and Wasiu Alabelewe FC.
Sunshine Stars, defunct Sharks FC, Kano Pillars and Lobi Stars won previous editions.
The country’s First Pre-Season Tournament is sponsored by distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, Dr Buhari Abdul-Fatai (BAF), and its proudly supported by Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi Foundation, Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee Member; Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, foremost betting company, Bet9ja, Nigeria leading sportswear firm, ‘Owu’, Newbell Global Investment, Naija League Magazine, Matchroom, Sportspro, 11th Media Global Concept, Phreestyle Sports, Kao Concept, Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation, Dejavu Communication, Play Sportswear, Phamatex Nigeria Limited and Bovina View Hotel.
