Nominees have emerged for the 12th Nigeria Pitch Awards at a luncheon which was held on Tuesday at the Johnwood Hotel in Abuja.
The awards are presented to Nigerian former and present sports people, administrators and journalists in recognition of their positive contributions to sports in Nigeria.
The award not only identifies and honours Nigerian heroes and heroines in football, but it also celebrates Nigeria’s most valuable football players and key stakeholders in football administration and management.
Speaking at the event, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, commended the organisers for initiating the award, which he described as transparent, as there have not been any complaints or grumbling by nominees at any point in time.
Gusau, who was represented by the Federation Director of Media and Communication, Dr Ademola Olajire, said the NFF will continue to give its support to the awards, describing it as a noble project.
“Awards is all about motivation and to encourage stakeholders to continue what they are doing. The award will continue to enjoy the support of the NFF as it has become a very noble project,” Gusau said.
The President, Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr Shina Philips, said the award is a platform established to inspire individual footballers and key stakeholders to higher levels of commitment and professionalism and also to serve as a catalyst for government and corporate entities to dedicate more resources to the development of sports in Nigeria.
He said, “The choice of award categories on this platform is part of our policy to deliberately target and highlight the contributions of individual footballers, coaches, administrators, journalists, government personalities, on the one hand, and national, sub-national, and corporate bodies, on the other hand, to the development of sports in general and football in particular.
“While rewarding hard work and patriotism, the Nigeria Pitch Awards platform concomitantly plays a pivotal role by alerting government and administrators to the need to re-engineer our sports processes, renew our sports infrastructure, and stimulate national interest in developing sports as a viable, revenue-generating industry. We see this as our enduring desire.”
Super Eagles’ and Galatasaray of Turkey hitman, Victor Osimhen, emerged as the star nominee as he was nominated for the King of the Pitch, Striker of the Year and Sam Okwaraji Commitment to Nigerian Football awards.
The nominees for the Goalkeeper of the Year award are Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy) and Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa).
Winners will be announced next year after the AFCON in Morocco..
The nominees at a glance:
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars & TS Galaxy F.C)
Maduka Okoye (Udinese Calcio)
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United FC)
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Benjamin Frederick (F.C.V. Dender)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC)
Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest FC)
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Alex Iwobi (Fulham F.C)
Frank Onyeka (Brentford F.C)
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)
Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş J.K.)
RASHIDI YEKINI AWARD FOR THE BEST STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC)
Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United)
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray S.K)
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars F.C
Rivers United F.C
Super Falcons
COACH OF THE YEAR
Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars F.C)
Finidi George (Rivers United F.C)
Justine Madugu (Super Falcons)
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
Kunle Soname
Patrick Olusegun Odegbami
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Delta State
Kwara State
Lagos State
FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
MKO Abiola Int’l Stadium Abeokuta, Ogun State
Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State
His Excellency, Dapo Abiodun Ogun State
His Excellency, Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State
CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD
Bet9ja Sport Betting
GTI Financial Financial Services
MTN Nigeria Telecom
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Bukola Olopade (DG, NSC)
George Aluo (Chairman NNL)
Hon. Kunle Soname (Chairman, Remo Stars FC)
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT
Abiodun Adewale Punch Newspapers
Johnny Edward The Nation Newspapers
Charles Diya New Telegraph Newspapers
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV
Babatunde Koiki (News Central Television)
Cecilia Omorogbe (Channels TV)
Mozez Praiz (Supersport)
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO
Olawale Adigun Wash 94.9 FM/ Sure 97.5 FM
Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM
Chuma Nnoli Nigeria Info FM
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE
Kunle Solaja (Sportsvillagesquare.com)
Niyi Busari (BSNSports.com.ng)
Samuel Ahmadu (Savid News/ Nigeriafootball.ng)
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion Women)
Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto)
Rasheedat Ajibade (PSG Feminine)
KING OF THE PITCH
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta B.C)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC)
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray S.K)
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