Nigerian Football
Pinnick Overwhelmed By World Citizens’ Greetings
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has formally expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the NFF Executive Committee, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the NFF Congress, Members of the Senate Committee on Sports, Members of the House of Reps’ Committee and several other individuals and groups for their support towards his recent election as a Member of the CAF Executive Committee.
The Member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions returned to Nigeria few days ago ahead of a special thanksgiving service in Warri this weekend, and to attend to important issues in Nigeria football before heading to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup (starting in The Bahamas in three weeks), from where he will fly to Bahrain for the 67th FIFA Congress early next month.
“I cannot possibly express appreciation to everyone and groups who gave me ample support.
However, I must very specially thank President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (GCON), Senate President Bukola Saraki (CON), the Speaker of the House (Most Honourable Yakubu Dogara, CFR), Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, Chairman and Members of the Senate Committee on Sports, Chairman and Members of the House Committee on Sports and of course, the NFF Congress. Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Obinna Ogba was personally present at the elections in Ethiopia.
“I also want to specially thank the Governors of Delta, Lagos, Edo and Cross River States (Their Excellencies Ifeanyi Okowa, Akinwunmi Ambode, Godwin Obaseki and Ben Ayade, respectively), the Minister of State for Petroleum (Dr. Ibe Kachikwu), the Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Dr. Dakuku Peterside), eminent newspaper columnists, respected sports editors, sports managers, reporters and correspondents and indeed everyone who played a role to see to the actualization of the dream.
“I want to assure everyone that I harbour no ill –feeling towards anyone who did not outrightly give their support. People have asked me about the members of CAF committees who spoke against my aspiration, and I have replied that they are highly –experienced administrators and we cannot wish away their experience and institutional knowledge.”
Pinnick insists that the landmark feat, which makes him only the third Nigerian in CAF Executive Committee, and the appointment into one of world football’s most important committees, will not becloud his vision and that of the present NFF Board to build a sustainable football culture for Nigeria.
“Now, we have a voice in African football politics, and we can play some role in world football. However, we remain committed to taking Nigeria football to new heights of excellence and we intend to put everything into the qualification campaigns for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
“We are also working hard to tackle the issue of funding, by interfacing with Nigeria corporate bodies to convince many more of them to embrace strategic partnership with the Nigeria game.”
Meanwhile, more congratulatory messages have landed on Pinnick’s desk following the victory in Addis Ababa, the latest coming from the presidents of Egyptian Football Association and the Federation Burkinabe de Football.
In his message, FBF boss, Colonel Sita Sangare wrote: “Following your brilliant election as African member of the executive committee of CAF during the CAF Congress held on the 16th of March in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), I would like, on behalf of the Football Association of Burkina Faso and on my own behalf to send you my warmest congratulations.
“I am very confident that your rich experience will be highly beneficial to the development of African football. I therefore wish you full success in your duty.”
Egypt FA president, Hany Abo Rida, who is a Member of the FIFA Council, wrote: “On behalf of the EFA president, board members and the executive manager, we have the pleasure to send you our best greetings for the confidence of the CAF general assembly and your success at the CAF election as CAF executive committee member.
“This confidence expresses the will of the CAF general assembly, which contributes to develop the level of the game in the African continent and co-operation between CAF and its affiliated federations in order to serve the African football.”
The Nigeria U17 women’s team has been given incentives to make it to the Women’s World Cup for the eighth time.
The team, Flamingos, who arrived in Algiers in the early hours of Wednesday aboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul, are highly inspired by the imminence of another FIFA World Cup ticket as well as further financial windfall from the Nigeria Football Federation and billionaire business mogul Kunle Soname.
Soname gifted the young players and their officials the sum of N4 million (one million naira for every goal) following their commanding win over the North Africans at the Remo Stars Stadium on Saturday, while the NFF gave out the sum of N2 million (five hundred thousand naira for every goal).
President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Soname have both confirmed that the same financial incentives are in place for the second leg in Blida on Friday.
“Our objective is clear – to win the FIFA World Cup ticket. That is the big motivation.
“Yet, we have been further incentivised by the monetary rewards. My girls will go all out on Friday night,” Head Coach Bankole Olowookere said.
Olowookere, who led the Flamingos to their last two World Cup ventures, will most likely rely on first-leg two-goal heroine Queen Joseph, lone-goal scorer Zainab Raji and Kaosarat Olanrewaju to start at the fore, with Shakirat Moshood, Muinat Rotimi and Philomena Isaiah supplying the passes from the midfield.
Goalkeeper and captain Christiana Uzoma and defenders Azeezat Oduntan, Hannah Ibrahim, Christiana Sunday and Jumai Adebayo are also likely to start.
The Confederation of African Football has selected Cameroonian official Marie Noelle Etong to be the referee, with her compatriots Marcelle Teikeu and Innocentia Ntangti as assistant referee 1 and fourth official, respectively, while Chadian Ngarassoum Victorine will be assistant referee 2.
Oumou Souleymane Kane from Mauritania will be the commissioner, and Sabelo Maphosa-Sibindi from Zimbabwe will be in the role of referee assessor.
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Former president of the initially 15-member West African Football Union (WAFU), Chief Jonathan Boytie Ogufere, has expressed his heartfelt condolences over the recent death of former national team captain and coach, Christian ‘Chairman’ Chukwu.
He remarked that the erstwhile Enugu Rangers’ defence stalwart will ‘be dearly missed’. In a personally signed letter of condolence, Ogufere described Chukwu, who died on Saturday, April 12, in Enugu after a brief illness at 74, as a ‘hero of our time and a friend’.
The nonagenarian recalled with nostalgia how he nearly recruited the young Chukwu for his P & T Vasco da Gama Football Club of Enugu, adding he was impressed with how the ‘Field Marshal Christian Chukwuemeka ‘Chairman ‘ Chukwu (MFR), conducted himself throughout his career as he led both the national team, the then Green Eagles and his beloved Enugu Rangers to many conquests.
“I join numerous others to mourn the transition of the legendary Christian Chukwu, a hero of our time and friend,” the Ugbugba of Okpe Kingdom wrote.
“As one of the young academicals discovered after the end of the Civil War in 1970, I tried to enlist into my club, the P & T Vasco da Gama Football Club of Enugu but he was fair and frank in informing me that he had already joined Enugu Ranges Football Club, and I respected that attitude. From the rivalries between the two clubs, his exploits as a central defender were very visible.”
He continued: “Christian Chukwu emerged at the national level as a trustworthy and formidable captain of the national team who led by example.
“He was one of the heroes during the Golden age of Nigerian football when I was one of the Board Members of the Nigeria Football Association under the chairmanship of Chief Sunday Dankaro as Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980 for the first time where Christian Chukwu as captain of the Green Eagles was declared the best player of the tournament. He led the national team in several battles, which endeared him to millions of football lovers.
“After his playing days, he showed his talents through coaching in Nigeria and abroad.
“I express my sincere condolences to the family he left behind, the football family and the country in general. He will be dearly missed.
“May the good Lord grant his noble soul eternal rest,” he noted.
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Remo Stars are coasting to what will be their greatest moment ever, a win of the Nigeria Premier Football League title, as they recorded a 1-0 win over Shooting Stars in Ibadan in a match played behind closed doors.
In doing so, they achieved their sixth double of the season, having earlier beaten Shooting Stars in the first stanza of the league.
They maintained the seven-point lead over second-placed Rivers United, who also beat Sunshine Stars 1-0 in Port Harcourt.
After a ding-dong affair, Alex Oyowah scored the vital goal for Remo Stars from a right-wing cross from Ismail Sodiq.
In another match, Ikorodu City continued to work tenaciously to obtain a continental ticket as they held El Kanemi to a 1-1 draw.
SUNDAY RESULTS
- El Kanemi 1-1 Ikorodu City
- Niger Tornados 1-1 Bayelsa United
- Heartland 0-0 Kwara United
- Plateau United 1-0 Akwa United
- Rivers United 1-0 Sunshine Stars
- Shooting Stars 0-1 Remo Stars
- Bendel United 1-1 Nasarawa United
SATURDAY
- Katsina United 0-0 Abia Warriors
- Enyimba 2-1 Kano Pillars
- Lobi Stars 2-4 Enugu Rangers
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