The SUN Honours Pinnick As Sports Personality Of The Year

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick will on Saturday be honoured with the award of Sports Personality of the Year at the prestigious annual THE SUN Awards, set for the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In a letter conveying the good news to Pinnick, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the leading media outfit, Mr. Eric Osagie wrote: “The Sun Board of Editors voted you in recognition of your blistering career as a sports administrator and motivator. Your ideas, strategy, energy and drive aimed at transforming the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) into a world class credible, respectable, transparent and accountable body with sustainable business –oriented culture are efficient and effective.

“You are a man of mission. Since your assumption of office as President, NFF, you have steadily unveiled capacity –building programs which have continually impacted positively on the league and attracted greater recognition from FIFA and CAF.

“Through your admirable combination of determination, hard work and distinction, you facilitated the signing of a kit sponsorship deal with a global brand and launched a twin-youth development program of the U-13 and U-15 in the various local government areas up to State levels. Your diligent pursuit of excellence is inspiring and worth applauding.

NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

“The Sports Personality of the Year category of The Sun Awards is conferred on a Nigerian sport man or woman, or official, or administrator whose achievements during the period of review have brought out the best in our sports and elevated our game to heights hitherto unknown.”

Former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sir Arthur Mbanefo, will chair the Awards ceremony.

NFF Invites APFON, NANF To Joint Meeting

The leadership of Nigeria Football has invited the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFON) and the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) to a meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick said the joint meeting had become necessary in order to find a permanent solution to the discord that has seen two different bodies claiming to represent the interests of professional footballers in Nigeria for so many years now.

“Our administration is seeking to install harmony in all sectors of the game of football, and the players – the real actors – are very, very important.

“We are keen to bring this discord, this misunderstanding between NANF and APFON to an end. Football thrives in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, and you cannot truly protect the interests of persons under a structure of disharmony,” Pinnick contended.

Thursday’s meeting will take place at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, and each of the bodies has been asked to attend with five members.

“We are lovers of peace. We will do everything humanly possible to bring the two unions together and make them work together.”

In the past, the Nigeria Football Federation had recognized APFON as the Member of Congress. The new effort seeks to unite the two in the interest of active and retired footballers in the country.