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The Story Of Naija’s Oldest Player
Kano Pillars’ midfield maestro, Rabiu Ali, continues to defy age, delivering a standout performance in matchday 1 of the 2024-2025 Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL with two goals against newly promoted side, Ikorodu City at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Scoring in 69th and 79th minutes, Rabiu extended his record of being the oldest player in Nigerian’s elite league at 44 years of age. Ali always credits his ongoing success to strict self-discipline, solidifying his status as a domestic football icon.
Delving into the career longevity of Rabiu Ali, it’s impossible not to marvel at his enduring influence in the NPFL. What makes a player in his early forties continue to dominate a field predominantly ruled by younger athletes? The answer lies in a disciplined lifestyle and an unyielding passion for football.
Rabiu Ali was born in Kano and plays as a creative midfielder for Kano Pillars.
‘Pele’, as teeming fans of the club fondly call him, has spent the greater part of his career in Kano and scored a load. He joined Kano Pillars in 2011 and currently captains the team. He has won the NPFL thrice with Pillars: 20112012, 2012/2013, and 2013–14. He made his debut for Nigeria in 2013.
He was a member of the Nigerian team in the last West African Football Union, WAFU Cup of Nations in Ghana finishing second. In January 2018, he was named in the Nigerian team for the 2018 African Nations Championship where the team finished as runners-up to host Morocco.
Playing in a city whose people are renowned for commerce, culture, and politics raises curiosity that a football player would enjoy a huge dose of the limelight and popularity at the same time.
Whether around his home in the ancient city, on the Pillars’ training pitch, during matches, or even at social functions, the situation is the same.
Ali is idolised to no end. “Pele, Pele, Pele, Pele…” is chanted as he makes his way past a sea of fans who usually swarm on him. It could make the Brazilian legend Pele, after whom Ali is nicknamed, green with envy.
In fairness, though, Ali has played football all his life, starting as a kid in the densely populated Fagge area of Kano where his primary schoolmates had given him the name that would stick till this moment.
“I was just a precocious little boy at Fagge Primary School who loved playing football. I played it with so much passion that nothing else interested me more.
“I think I did better than my mates and they soon began to see me as having the skills that they lacked. Before I knew it, they started to call me Pelen yaro (translated in English as young Pele) and it made me known in my school and beyond,” he told The Cable.
For the talented kid, the flight to the top had begun. One local side called Soccer Boys Football Club snapped him up. Soon after, another club named Zumunta practically snatched him away, only for Junior Fancy to come calling after a few months.
Yet another side, Soccer Strikers, signed him. But it did not take long before Bank of the North desperately came for him. At that time, he had become a household name as a midfield player who had perfected the art of scoring vital goals.
Ali was destined to be a star in his native Kano. He was poached away from Bank of the North by Zamfara United Football Club. Notwithstanding that he shone at the club before he moved again to Nasarawa United, he returned to Kano in 2007 to play for Pillars.
In an interview with PUNCH Sports Extra, Ali acknowledged that his children’s only chance of playing the game is also in school. “Although we faced difficulty from our parents during our time and for me, I said my children won’t play football as well because even in my house I don’t allow it,” he said.
Ali has been active in the Nigeria Premier Football League for about two decades but he would rather want his children to focus on their education before pursuing a football career.
“Of course, you don’t follow the kids to school or the playground. If my child chooses to play, I will support him because that’s what he has opted to do, but he has to complete schooling before considering football,” he said.
Ali also opened up on his retirement plans, insisting that he wants to stay away from football to focus on his business and family after hanging his boots.
“I won’t be considering coaching as a career. I am a businessman and I’d rather return to my business so that I can spend more time with my family unlike now that you’re not always there. Every day you’re not always around and the children keep growing without you being there for them even though they have people taking care of them but sometimes they wish you could also be with them often.,” the veteran said.
Ali, who has spent 16 years playing at Kano Pillars, when prodded by retirement, quickly responded that he is not calling time yet on his career despite being the oldest player in the top division in the West African nation. He still feels his limbs can carry him on but will not give a timeline on his plan to call it quits.
“Football is something you enjoy doing, so, when it’s time to quit your body will give you the signals that you’re tired. So, this long time I took in playing football is not something I did for myself or someone did but it is God’s privilege and His will.
“You know as a Muslim, I do everything it takes to avoid any form of vices that will affect my health, for instance, womanising, drinking alcohol, and all sorts. I also take heed to advice from the coaching crew, which is quite beneficial to my health status and has aided my longevity in the game.
“I am still going (strong playing in the NPFL). Your body will tell you when it is ready to stop but my body has not told me when to stop but we never know. We don’t know what is going to happen in the end,” began as he spoke with npfl.com.ng.
According to Ali, him not plying his trade abroad like other players is destined by God. “You know, if God already destined something to happen, nobody can change it. Most of the players look for greener pastures outside the country but for me, it’s otherwise although I do sit and wonder why I remained at home because most of my friends are either in Europe or Arab countries earning big money.
“But I think the major factor that affected me was my age. A mistake was made during one of the CHAN games I played and that was what caused the age factor. The mistake was made by one of the CHAN secretaries and most of the team crew knew about it. So, I made up my mind afterward to continue playing in the NPFL. If the opportunity to go abroad comes, fine, and if not, that’s God’s will,” Ali said.
Despite his humility and successes on the pitch, Ali’s frustration nearly cost his team a points deduction, when he attacked he attacked the referee following his team’s 1-1 draw with Enugu Rangers in the NPFL championship playoffs in 2019 when Ali’s free-kick goal was cancelled late on by a penalty goal by Godwin Aguda.
The Pillars skipper would then confront the referee on his game-defining decisions before irate fans invaded the Agege Stadium pitch. He was subsequently banned for 12 matches afterward.
His club defended his action, arguing that he has been a disciplined player in his long and illustrious career. Pillars were also fined eight million Naira and were also instructed to play three home games the following season behind closed doors and also sanctioned with a suspended three-point deduction.
Aside from earning his stripes on the pitch for his outstanding efficiency with which he has netted more than 100 goals in a career spanning three decades, he has also earned his respect off it as administrators, fans, and journalists are unanimous that “Rabiu is reliable.” Nothing can be more assuring.
By Benprince Ezeh
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