Pinnick greets SWAN at 53

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, has felicitated with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), its president, executives and members on the occasion of the body’s 53rd anniversary celebrations.

The NFF boss, who is in Gabon working as a member of the CAF Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations, described SWAN as “authentic watchdogs” without whom the nation would not have achieved its many feats in international football, nay sports.

“I want to state clearly, without any gainsaying, that sports writers have done much to push administrators to ensure things are done in a proper way. They have pointed out shortcomings and laxity, sometimes in harsh manner, but at the end of the day, their observations have served time and again to help administrators in their job.

“Pen titans like Pecos (Peter Osugo) and Esbee (Solomon Babatunde Osuntolu), radio icons like Ishola Folorunsho (It’s A Goal!), Ernest Okonkwo and Sebastian Ofurum and unforgettable TV personalities like Tolu Fatoyinbo and Fabio Lanipekun, to mention but a few, bequeathed a strong foundation upon which the luminaries of today continue to build.”

While encouraging the Honour Sirawoo–led SWAN executive team to push ahead with its plans to sanitise the body, the new member of the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions affirmed that administrators will continue to treasure constructive criticisms made robust by proferred solutions and devoid of malice.

“Sports writers are key stakeholders of the Nigerian football project, and I believe the new leadership has what it takes to formulate policies that will take SWAN to a new level, and guarantee its pride of place in the Nigeria game. There is the need to remain focused and dedicated to the pursuit of real development of our football.”