Super Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa has commenced full team training with Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) outfit, Kano Pillars, as he aims to keep fit ahead of the summer transfer market, megasportsarena.com reports.
In what becomes the latest return home by a well-established Nigerian player that has made his mark in Europe, Musa says he is ready to give his very best to the club that shot him to limelight back in the year 2009.
Back then, Musa’s haul of 18 goals took Pillars to the NPFL title, but he was soon on his way to VV Van Venlo of Holland, from where he moved to CSKA Moscow of Russia, Leicester City of England and Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, which he left by mutual consent in October.
He has since been unable to get a new club, despite links with a return to CSKA and trials at West Bromwich Albion of England, such that returning to ply his trade ‘for free’ at Pillars has turned it both a saving grace for him and image lifting gain for the NPFL.
Musa has now officially started training with Sai Masu Gida ahead of the restart of the season next weekend, with Pillars on 36 points from 19 matches and at par with Kwara United of Ilorin, who top the log with a goals difference of 13, while the Kano side have seven.
The 28-year-old striker-cum-winger’s new contract includes a clause allowing him to leave when and if he can find a club in Europe, following a plan that was initiated by Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and League Management Company (LMC) chairman, Shehu Dikko.
It is a deal that is expected to garner multiple gains, which include boosting the images of Kano Pillars and the NPFL, while also helping Musa keep in shape for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in June, and the fleet-footed player admitted as much.
Musa told BBC Sport Africa: “Anything that improves the image of Nigerian football is something that I strive to embark on and Kano Pillars holds a special place in my heart.
“It’s the team that helped me become the professional footballer I am today, so this is more than just football but a very strong bond.”
