The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pinnick

  • SPORTS MINISTER’S PARLEY: Pinnick, Giwa exchange blows

    SPORTS MINISTER’S PARLEY: Pinnick, Giwa exchange blows

    It was the timely intervention of the Honourable Minister of Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung and security personnel that prevented what could have been a bloodshed battle between

    the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick and the factional leader Chris Giwa who is fighting to get what he believed to be his mandate. The duo exchanged blows at the parley organized by the Minister to settle once and for all the wrangling confronting Nigerian football. The event was held at the National Stadium Package B yesterday.

    The peace meeting began at exactly 3.50pm prompt after the Minister had breezed in at around 3.45pm while Giwa had arrived first at 3.02pm and NFF boss came in later at 3.08pm.

    The scuffle started 1hr 15minutes after the commencement of the meeting when Pinnick allegedly called Giwa a bastard. The dialogue that ensued that fueled the scuffle went thus:

    Giwa had replied angrily to Pinnick: “You called me a bastard?

    Pinnick then replied: “Who are you, am I not a Nigerian?

    The Minister then waded in to caution the NFF boss: “Pinnick withdraw that statement. You were not supposed to use a foul language as a leader.”

    Amaju Pinnick then apologised to Giwa: “I am very sorry Mr Giwa. I don’t know what got over me. I am ashamed of my actions. Please forgive me.” The meeting then continued.

  • Committees reconstituted after wide consultations – Pinnick

    Committees reconstituted after wide consultations – Pinnick

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick at the weekend reiterated that the reconstitution of a number of the federation’s standing committees and the judicial bodies were done only after extensive consultations with various football interest groups and stakeholders in the country.

    While dissolving the 20 standing committees and two judicial bodies at the end of the NFF Annual General Assembly in Abuja on December 16, 2015, Pinnick stated that the dissolution was to re-invigorate the committees, make room for more inclusive arrangement and bring in more highly –qualified personalities.

    The quality and capacity of membership of the six standing committees and the two judicial bodies released on Friday has validated Pinnick’s claims.

    In an unprecedented move, the NFF has sought to carry along various interest groups, while also including some of the leading football personalities in the land.

  • Pinnick praises Eaglets, wants focus on trophy

    Pinnick praises Eaglets, wants focus on trophy

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has applauded the six-star performance of the Golden Eaglets in routing Australia to reach the FIFA U-17 World Cup quarter -finals early Thursday morning.

    The Cup holders started slowly as the Aussies swamped all over the pitch at the Estadio Sausalito in Vina del Mar, but the tactically aware and inventive Eaglets waited for the right time to land the sucker punch, and then took the game by the jugular as the young boys from Down Under literally went down under the superior savvy and precision of the world champions.

    “I must start by pouring encomiums on the players and officials of the Golden Eaglets, not just for the victory over Australia that has taken us closer to the objective of retaining the trophy, but also for their general comportment and discipline which has been acknowledged by all at the World Cup in Chile.

    “They have been doing the nation proud. The victories over USA, host Chile and now Australia were well –deserved, because they toiled and invented and never let up, even when leading the opposition. Even when they lost to Croatia, they played with their hearts. The NFF is very proud of Coach Emmanuel Amuneke and the players,” stated Pinnick.

    Before the players departed for Argentina for their final training camp, Pinnick met with Coach Amuneke and the players and charged them to do everything they could to retain the trophy, won for an unprecedented fourth time for Nigeria by the Manu Garba –led Class of 2013. The NFF boss reminded the players and coaches that President Muhammadu Buhari was the first Nigerian leader to receive the FIFA Cadet World Cup, in his first coming as a military Head of State in 1985. That year, Nduka Ugbade-led the squad that won the inaugural tournament in China.

    “I assure you that President Buhari will also be waiting to receive the trophy again this time, and you all would be the first group of footballers to be hosted specially by the President,” said Pinnick.

    On the eve of their first match against USA in Santiago, the players and coaches received an even heftier charge from President Muhammadu Buhari himself, telling them to go for the trophy.

    “The NFF is happy with the progress the team has been making, but I want them to focus hard on the challenges ahead and know that the trophy is the ultimate. They are so close to glory but they must be focused and have strong mental attitude on the field of play.”

    The Eaglets take on Brazil for a place in the semi-finals at the now –familiar Estadio Sausalito in Vina del Mar (where they pounded host Chile 5-1 and victimised Australia 6-0) on Sunday (starting 8pm Nigeria time).

  • NFF plans Algeria or Morocco friendly for Eagles

    NFF plans Algeria or Morocco friendly for Eagles

    Nigeria Football Federation will open talks with Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria for a friendly ahead of the crunch two-legged African Nations Cup qualifier against Egypt in March, the body’s president, Amaju Pinnick told africanFootball.com

    He said the NFF is determined to ensure that the players are in the right frame of mind technically and mentally against the record seven-time African champions.

    “I have asked them to begin to shop for a friendly game against Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria in the next available FIFA window,” he told africanFootball.com

    “That tells you how important the next AFCON qualifiers are to us. We want to make sure that the boys are properly prepared and have an idea of how the North Africans play.

    “But in any case, coach Sunday Oliseh has already started studying the tapes of the Egyptians and he is preparing the game plans.”

  • Pinnick insists on code of conduct

    Pinnick insists on code of conduct

    The code of conduct for players and officials of the various National Teams will soon come into force, so says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Speaking from Belgium yesterday, NFF President Amaju Pinnick assured that the document was ready and would be implemented soonest to guide the conduct of players, officials and coaches and minimise areas of conflict and tension in the national camp.

    “A small group had been working on the document and I am happy to say that it is now ready for implementation. This will spell out how players and officials must conduct themselves while in any of the national camps, and minimise the probability of misunderstanding between coaches and players.

    “The recent happening in the camp of the Super Eagles in Belgium was unwarranted but I am happy we have been able to put that behind us.  Coach Sunday Oliseh and  Vincent Enyeama even spoke cordially on Saturday during Enyeama’s meeting with the NFF leadership.”

    At the meeting, Pinnick, in company with NFF 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi and 2nd Vice President Shehu Dikko, told Enyeama in clear terms that the country is bigger than any individual, and that even if he was determined to quit international football, he did not have to do so in a situation of acrimony.

    “I told him that he did so well for Nigeria over the past thirteen-and-half years that he had been there, and by all means, is deserving of a honourable exit. Whatever the situation, whether he decides to return to the team or not, the NFF will organise a worthy testimonial match in his honour because he served the nation so well.

    “However, the head coach is in full charge of the team and the camp at all times, and that fact must be respected. The NFF will support and respect the decision of the head coach of any of the national teams at all times.  Oliseh and Enyeama are true heroes of Nigeria football, if you look at what they achieved at different times. But Oliseh is the head coach now and in charge of the team. We will continue to respect his contract; our role as a Federation is advisory.”

    Pinnick insisted that with regards to the recent misunderstanding, there is no victor and no vanquished. But he hinted that the code of conduct is certain to restrict the use of social media by players to reveal situation in the national camp.

    “No player launches his career through the social media. When players are at their clubs, they don’t broadcast camp situation on twitter, facebook or instagram. The same restraint and discipline must be observed in the national camp.”

  • Pinnick wants MFM FC listed on The Stock Exchange

    Pinnick wants MFM FC listed on The Stock Exchange

    President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick has charged newly promoted Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos to get listed on the Stock Exchange to prove that it was ready for the Nigeria Premier League.

    Speaking during the Sunday service at church headquarters in Yaba, Pinnick believes getting listed on the Stock Exchange will prove that MFM FC is ready to play in the Nigeria Premier League as a professional club.

    “I’m delighted that for the very first time in the history of Nigeria football, a private club owned by a religious organisation will be playing in the Nigeria Premier League come next season but my joy will be full if MFM FC is run professionally.

    “My advice is that MFM FC should become the first club to be listed on the Stock Exchange. That is the way to go”, opined the former Delta Football Association boss.

    Pinnick who described MFM as a living church where miracles happen, commended the General Overseer, Dr Daniel Olukoya for investing in the youth.

    He advised other religious organisations to follow in Dr Olukoya’s footsteps by embracing sports while revealing that his administration was bent on taking Nigeria football to the very top.

  • Pinnick calls for patience, canvasses support for Oliseh

    Pinnick calls for patience, canvasses support for Oliseh

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick refused to be despondent following Saturday’s 0-0 draw between the Super Eagles and Taifa Stars of Tanzania. Rather, he saw a lot of positives in the result and has called on Nigerians from far and near to exercise patience as new Head Coach Sunday Oliseh gradually steadies his ship.

    Nigeria were expected to take three points away from Dar es Salaam on Saturday, but came away with a point as the race to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Gabon gathered steam. Even with the draw, Pinnick remains confident the Eagles will get there.

    “It was a good match in the sense that Oliseh has now seen his first set of players, and he has seen the good and the bad ones. If we had been able to play a friendly match before this game, he would certainly have had greater knowledge of each of his players.

    “However, a lot of lessons have been learnt here. The coach  would have wanted so much to win, but that is football. I believe the team will get better as we go along.”

    Pinnick called on football –passionate Nigerians to remain in solid support of Oliseh as the NFF intends to organise several friendly games to engender bonding among the new players and entrench cohesion and telepathy.

    “On our part, we will do our best to arrange a lot of friendly games for the team. I believe the team will be better against Niger Republic in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    “When you are rebuilding, you have to exercise patience because you have to bring in and take out as the process requires.”

    The NFF President hailed the discipline and organisation that he saw in the Eagles’ camp in Dar es Salaam.

    “As we keep saying, it is not always only about winning. The building of a sustainable football culture is paramount in our administration’s programmes. We want to win matches, but we also want to see attitude that projects the nation positively. I am happy with the discipline in the team camp and the organisation.

    “When there is discipline and dedication, and patriotism, the results will come,” he said. Pinnick pointed out that there were so many debutants in the Eagles’ team that drew in Dar es Salaam.

    On a day that Mauritania spanked Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Liberia beat Tunisia and South Sudan earned victory over Equatorial Guinea, the Super Eagles drew 0-0 with Tanzania and now have four points in the Gabon 2017 race.

  • AFCON: Pinnick demands outright victory over Tanzania

    AFCON: Pinnick demands outright victory over Tanzania

    Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, is expecting an outright victory over Tanzania in Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier in Dar Es Salaam.

    “We have come here for a win,” Pinnick told supersport.com shortly after arriving at the Tanzania capital on Thursday.

    “We have travelled from far and though we had slight delays we are finally happy to be in Tanzania ready for the Saturday game which we know will not be easy. But we want to go back home with all the three important points.”

    “As the federation we have endeavoured to give the technical bench and players a condusive atmosphere knowing our opponent will not be a push over on Saturday, “the NFF chief added.

     

  • NFF REBRANDING: ‘Amaju Pinnick on right track’

    NFF REBRANDING: ‘Amaju Pinnick on right track’

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under Amaju Pinnick has been commended for restructuring Nigerian Football.

    Kwara State born Sports philanthropist Babatunde Saliu Afase who gave the admonition while addressing journalists in Ilorin praised the present NFF administration for their outstanding restructuring of Nigerian Leagues.

    He urged them to bring more innovations for total transformation of the country’s football.

    “The positive change in our football is as a result of good leadership and hard work Amaju Pinnick and his members are putting into practice and I think they need to be commended and acknowledged for this,” said Afase.

    “The standard of our Leagues and football has changed tremendously and there are better opportunities when a country’s football is properly managed and structured. The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has improved and we are all happy that we have a league that we can call our own, officiating of matches are now perfect and handlers of our various national teams are all competent and experienced, what we need to do now is to give them support and pray for them to succeed as it will be a collective praise,” the business man cum football enthusiast added.

    He, however, urged the present NFF to continue with their transformation and developmental agenda of improving football and creating standard football structures in the country.

  • Bassey canvasses support for Pinnick-led NFF

    Bassey canvasses support for Pinnick-led NFF

    CAF General Coordinator, Mr. Paul Bassey, has passionately appealed to the Government and Nigerians to give support to the Amaju Pinnick –led Nigeria Football Federation, including the reforms being embarked upon by the administration, so far with remarkable success.

    FIFA Match Commissioner Bassey, indisputably one of Nigeria’s real and active leading figures in world football, spoke at the weekend against the backdrop of improved reckoning of Nigeria by the world football community and credible steps taken by the 11 –month old Pinnick Board.

    “We must begin to assess the impact of the new NFF administration in real terms, and I am of the firm opinion that the recent appointment of Pinnick as Member of Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-20 World Cup is the latest acknowledgement by world football that the new NFF is projecting Nigeria football very well internationally.

    “I look at the reforms being embarked upon by the Pinnick administration, and I see the need for Government and every Nigerian to support this team and these reforms, because they are in the interest of our country’s football,” said Bassey.