El-Kanemi to Approach Shettima for Supplementary Budget

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Following their return to their Maiduguri base due to improved security in the north east, hints have emerged that El-Kanemi Warriors may write Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima to assist the team with finance to make it possible to prosecute its remaining away matches in the Nigeria Premier League.

Security concern arising from the insurgency in the north eastern region had prompted the League Management Company (LMC) to banish El-Kanemi to Katsina for its home matches.

For almost two years, the team coached by Ladan Bosso played its home fixtures at the Karkanda Stadium in Katsina with some mixed results.

However, while commending the gallantry of the Nigeria military for curtaining the insurgency, the Chairman of Borno Football Association, Alhaji Babagana Kall,i said the management was thinking of approaching Shettima for financial support as the stay of the team in Katsina left a deep hole in its budget.

“We still have in place the budget we prepared while the team was in Katsina but you must realise the reason behind our going to Katsina in the first place. The management of the club will now write the governor to give us additional money to cover the demand of playing our away matches, ’’Kalli said.

He described the stint in Katsina as a very difficult period for El Kanemi, comparing the demand of playing their home fixtures about 700 kilometres away from Maiduguri to almost like playing away matches.

Kalli thanked the state government for being steadfast in supporting the team but noted that the team did not find it easy playing in Katsina.

“It is very tough to play your home matches on away ground for almost two years. It is almost like playing all matches at away. If you look at it, most of the relegated clubs were those banished from their home base to play three or four matches on neutral ground. So you can hardly see them surviving. But in our case we have been playing away from home for almost two seasons we still survived and my prayer is that the team will sustain the spirit,’’ Kalli sounded.