The match itself, Kaduna Utd vs Kano Pillars ended in a 1-1 draw and the friendly spirit shown by players and officials of both teams was something worthy of applause.
Kano Pillars were quick to settle into the match despite the fact that they were playing away from home and they set the tone for the afternoon with a beautifully struck goal by Rabiu Ali before Siman Yusuf levelled the game just eight minutes before the break.
Kano Pillars showed no sign of missing Ahmed Musa after Ali was played on from a flick before he unleashed a powerful left drive to beat goalkeeper Richard Ochayi after a great start to the game.
But that lead was cut short within eight minutes, Siman Yusuf silenced the travelling crowd after midfielder Sani Aruwa played him through on goal. Yusuf’s accuracy, composure and pace ensured that he dispatched the ball past Kano Pillars goalkeeper, Theophilus Afelokhai, to leave score at one apiece at half time.
The goal seemed to spur the homeside into life and they mounted a late pressure on the Kano boys in the latter part of the first half but Pillars did well to ward off all the attacks of Kaduna Utd. They must have been the happeir of the two teams when the half time whistle was blown.
Kano Pillars brought on striker Gambo Mohammed on the stroke of half time but it was the away side that started the second half with purpose and tenacity. Kaduna Utd deployed quick short passes and created several chances to the delight of the home fans.
Kano Pillars did have chances of their own, one of such was in the 58th minute when Jude Aneke was clear on goal but took to long deciding what to do with the ball and in the process Kaduna Utd's left wing back, John Yampe, took the ball off him.
Aneke had three more glorious chances to win the game for the visitors but his profligacy in front of goal did him in. Attempt by Kano Pillar's coach to go all out for the maximum points by throwing John Huan and Joseph Thompson into the fray yielded no result as the match ended 1-1.
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