President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin
Pinnick and another Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed
‘Fresh’ were the cynosure of eyes at the inaugural edition of the New
Telegraph Awards held at the Balmoral Events Centre of Federal Palace
Hotel, Lagos on Saturday night.
Pinnick,
also a Member of the CAF Executive Committee, CAF Emergency Committee and President
of AFCON, as well as being a Member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA
Competitions, was named the Sports Administrator of the Year, to a
resounding ovation in the auditorium.
Apart from
taking Nigerian Football to a high level of global reckoning in football
politics, the Pinnick –led NFF’s adroit man-management, focus, energy and
dynamism saw the Super Eagles conduct a sterling 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying
campaign, in which they qualified from a so –called ‘Group of Death’ with a
match to spare, and left second –placed Zambia stranded six points behind.
There has
also been unprecedented sponsorship agreements with top –notch corporate
bodies, and a landmark agreement with the Super Eagles players and management
on the team’s share of expected income from FIFA on 2018 World Cup
participation underscored a transparent and refreshing new way of doing things.
Ahmed
‘Fresh,’ who is Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee and
much respected for his contributions to grassroots football and youth
empowerment, was honoured with the Grassroots Football Development award.
He is also a Member of the CAF Technical and Development Committee.
At the
occasion to felicitate with the duo were Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi (NFF 1st Vice
President and Member of CAF Youth Competitions Committee), Mallam Shehu Dikko
(NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman and Member of FIFA
Football Stakeholders Committee), NFF Executive Committee members Sharif Inuwa,
Aisha Falode and Mohammed Alkali, NLO CEO Ahmad Kawu, NFF Congress members Tade
Azeez, Frank Ilaboya, Dahiru Sadi and Austin Popo, Club Owners’ chieftains
Isaac Danladi and Alloy Chukwuemeka and other stakeholders.
Former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar, House of Reps’ Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Niger Delta
Development Commission MD Nsima Ekere, parliamentarian Nkeiruka Onyejeocha,
JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede, wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye and
Nollywood stars Richard Mofe-Damijo and Sola Sobowale were among those also
honoured on the night.
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