A frontline founding member of the Nigeria Professional Football League , NPFL side Kano Pillars football club , Alhaji Salisu Yaro is dead.
The Independent Mirror reported that Alhaji Yaro passed away aged 80 on Monday in Kano State.
The septugenrian football technocrat passed away in the early hours of 1st January 2024 at his Geida quarters country home in Kano.
Late Salisu Yaro A.K.A Maigida as he is fondly called by football followers gave up his last, after battling with an undisclosed ailment.
A close ally to the deceased said , Maigida was battling with an ailment, which led to his sojourn overseas in search of medical treatment.
He returned back to Kano few months back , where he was receiving medical treatment until he breath his last breath, on Monday morning.
Our correspondent reports that , hundreds of Kano residents trooped to his residence to pay their last homage and condole with the family of the deceased .
His remains have been laid to rest at about 1.30pm same day , at Dandolo cemetry in accordance to Islamic injunctions.
Dignitaries who took.part in the funeral ceremony are the executive board member and chairman technical committee , Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Rabiu Inuwa Ahlan.
Others are the former chairman of the now defunct , Nigeria Football Association , Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, former chief registrar Kano state High court of justice, justice Jamilu Suleiman A.K.A Goro, former captain Raccah Rovers, Huseini Alabi.
Rabiu Inuwa on behalf of Nigeria s football governing body described the death of Salisu Yaro as a huge loss to Nigerian football family.
Rabiu said Yaro mentored a vast number of players, coaches , referees, sports journalists, football administrators from Kano and beyond , his home was the home of football, beyond Kano and beyond northern Nigeria , Rabiu further said”.
Checks revealed that the deceased was a founding member of the Kano Pillars FC, after serving in the management of the defunct Raccah Rovers of Kano.
He would be remembered for his role in the recruitment of prominent players i.e Baba Otu Mohammed, Ahmed Garba, Yaro Yaro, Ishaya Jatau, late Kabiru Baleria, Nasiru Jubril, Sani Keita and lately Ahmed Musa.
The former chairman, NFA , Ibrahim Galadima also prayed for the repose of the soul.of late Yaro.
The President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Benjamin Isiah represented by an incumbent ex officio of the association Lurwanu Idris Malikawa joined early callers at the residence of the deceased, he prayed Allah to grant the soul of the late man, eternal rest.
The President Youths Sports Federation of Nigeria and Kano state APC gubernatorial candidate , Nasiru Gawuna reacting to the incidence made total.submission to the will.of Allah.
Gawuna speaking through his sports aide, Mallam Aliyu Kassim said Salisu Yaro is no more , all praise is due to Allah , the Master of the day of judgement , adding that Salisu is no longer with us, but his contributions to sports development will.live with us.
He was a bridge builder, sports man to the core and a detribalized sports man, all those who encountered him in the industry can testify to these qualities of his until.his last days ,.we pray that Allah in his infinite mercies will accept his good deeds and grant him eternal abode in paradise. Gawuna said.
Until his death, Salisu was the welfare officer of Kano Pillars FC.
He is survived by his wife, children and grand children.
