Praises for NFF as Obi emerges King of Pitch There were effusive praises for the Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation once more, as Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, at the weekend dubbed Maigari the “coolest and most silent achiever in football administration.” The occasion was the inaugural edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, which held at the Pearl Hall of Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar on Saturday evening. Speaking after being presented his Football-friendly Governor of the Year award by Maigari, Governor Imoke said, with a matter-of-fact mien: “I receive this award with every sense of humility. But I believe those who do the real work and give us all joy are the Executive Board and Management of Nigeria Football Federation. “The gentleman beside me here (Maigari, who presented him the award) is the coolest and most silent achiever in football administration. Alongside, his board, they have turned around the fortune of Nigeria football and are heading for the sky. “I really commend them for their groundbreaking feats. It is a long time that our country, our people have had so much to celebrate within a short span of time. We have just won the 2014 FIFA World Cup ticket only eight days after lifting the FIFA U-17 World Cup to set a global record. In fact, the successes have piled up so high that we are almost forgetting that it is in this same year that we won the Africa Cup of Nations.” Maigari, Chairman of NFF Technical and Development Committee, Barrister Chris Green, General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, Nigeria’s FIFA Security Officer ACP Gideon Akinsola and President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo were presented with Football Achievement Awards. Another member of the NFF Executive Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu was named Club Manager of the Year. Super Eagles’ midfielder and Chelsea FC ace, John Mikel Obi was crowned Best Midfielder and King of Pitch (Player of the Year), with Perpetua Nkwocha, four-time African Woman Player of the Year, named Queen of Pitch. Eagles’ number one Vincent Enyeama was crowned Goalkeeper of the Year; Godfrey Oboabona won Defender of the Year and Emmanuel Emenike, top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, emerged Striker of the Year. Other winners included Stephen Keshi (Coach of the Year); Jelili Ogunmuyiwa (Referee of the Year); John Shittu (Players’ Agent of the Year); Kano Pillars (Club of the Year); Ade Ojeikere (Journalist of the Year – Print); Bimbo Adeola (Journalist of the Year – Radio); Toyin Ibitoye (Journalist of the Year – TV) and Lagos State (Best Grassroots Development Programme). Member, NFF Technical and Development Committee and CAF General Coordinator, Etubom Paul Bassey and former Super Eagles’ captain Jay Jay Okocha, also a member of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, were given Special Recognition awards. Present at the awards were Governor Imoke, his wife Barrister (Mrs) Obioma Liyel Imoke, Cross River State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Patrick Ugbe, NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari, NFF Executive Committee members Barrister Green, Alhaji Muazu Suleyman, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, Chief Anyansi-Agwu, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, Hon. Shehu Adamu and Alhaji Ahmadu Muazu Kawu, NFF General Secretary Barrister Musa Amadu, NFF Director of Marketing, Adama Idris and NFF Assistant Director (Media) Ademola Olajire. There were also Alhaji Mumuni Alao, Managing Director of Complete Communications Limited and Mr. Kunle Solaja, General Editor of The SUN newspapers. Ademola Olajire Assistant Director (Media) Nigeria Football Federation
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 09:31:16 +0000
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