Kano Pillars beg NFF for N25m Aiteo Cup prize money
For the umpteenth time, Kano Pillars football club have appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to pay their N25million Aiteo Cup Prize money.
After waiting for 66 years, Kano Pillars won their second Challenge Cup trophy, now called Aiteo Cup when they defeated Niger Tornadoes 4-3 on penalties in the 2019 finals decided at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.
Although they were to take home the cash prize of N25m for winning the competition sponsored by Aiteo Group, Kano Pillars have said they are yet to be paid the money.
The Chairman of the club, Alhaji Surajo Shaaibu Yahaya who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday said Pillars have not given up on the money but are not prepared to make it a media issue.
He said in order not to be seen as challenging the NFF, Pillars have decided to wait patiently for the prize money to be paid.
Yahaya, however, said that now that Pillars are faced with continental competition which is going to gulp millions of naira, it has become imperative to remind the NFF about the money.
He said “We have not given up but we don’t want to be confrontational. When dealing with elders, you don’t shout on top of your voice.
“We don’t want a situation where we would upset someone. All we can do is to keep appealing to the NFF to consider our plight and pay us the prize money.
“Considering our present financial situation, N25million will help us greatly. At the moment, we are preparing for the continent and it is going to cost us hundreds of millions of naira.
“If they release the money to us, you can only imagine what it would do for us. Although we have retained the trophy we won in 2019, we are not asking for a double prize.
“We want only N25m from the NFF. As a matter of fact, it will be good if in future, such prize money is paid immediately after the competition.”
Yahaya, however, reiterated that Pillars will not apply unnecessary pressure on NFF for the prize money to be paid.