THE President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick has praised the organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards ahead of the eighth edition of the NFF-endorsed ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, 29 March.
The Pitch Awards began in 2013 and annually recognise the best of Nigerian football performances every year.
“Awards are very important part of the sport,” Pinnick said in Abuja on Monday. “It helps to motivate and energize the actors and actresses on the pitch.
“Beyond monetary rewards, awards are very special in that many, many years after, you can look at it either on the wall of your room or inside your cabinet and be proud of what you did while you were out there active in the business.
“I salute the bravery and perseverance of the President of Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips, and his team. They are doing a great job that is helping the collective work of inspiring our players to more determined and greater performances in crucial matches and championships.”
This year’s awards ceremony is scheduled for hours after the second leg of the Qatar 2022 World Cup playoffs between the Super Eagles and Ghana’s Black Stars at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Pinnick will be honoured at the ceremony along with Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of the President (who will receive Special Achievement in Sports award); Mrs Betsy Obaseki, First Lady of Edo State, and Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba.
The organisers of the award had on 5 January in Lagos unveiled the nominees for 17 award categories, with Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu and Wilfred Ndidi up for the King of the Pitch award.
Super Falcons’ trio of Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu and Gift Monday will battle for the Queen of the Pitch prize.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Ezenwo Nyesom Wike of Rivers will contend for the Football-Friendly Governor of the Year, while Kelechi Iheanacho joins Osimhen and Onuachu for the Striker of the Year contest.
Other major categories include Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sam Okwaraji Award, State with Best Grassroots Football Development Programme, Football Pitch of the Year and Football Journalist of the Year awards.
