Kabiru Baleria, a former Nigerian international and team manager of Nigeria Professional Football League side Kano Pillars has passed away after a protracted illness the club announced on its website on Tuesday.

The former assistant Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles coach died on Tuesday evening at Doctor’s clinic in Bompai quarters in Kano state the statement said.

Baleria also played for the 4-time league champions and was 57-years old at the time of his passing.

He has since been buried according to Islamic rites Pillars media officer Rilwan Malikawa said. 

“Baleria died at the age of 57 and he is survived by his wife, six children and many relatives,” the club statement announced.

“Late Baleria was a former National team player and previously among the coaches at the U-17 level and the U-20 national team.

“Baleria died after a protracted illness.

“Football family in Kano and beyond are trooping into the family House of late Baleria located at Durumin Zungura quarters, in Kano metropolitan to show their last respect to the late football icon.”

Born in April 1972, the late Baleria obtained his basic and advanced coaching licenses from the National Institute of Sports in Lagos in 2005 and 2008 before obtaining the CAF C license in 2014.

His playing career encompassed stints at El Kanemi Warriors, Julius Berger FC and Kano Pillars on the domestic front. He also played for Al Arabi FC in Saudi Arabia and Canon de Yaounde of Cameroon.

As a coach, Baleria won the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup as an assistant coach of the Nigerian U17 side that included Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.

He also had a stint in the backroom staff of El Kanemi Warriors and was appointed acting Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars after the first spell of current manager Ibrahim Musa.

He was appointed the team manager after Musa was reinstated last season and held that position until his death on Tuesday.