Gov. Ambode, Mikel, Moses, nominated for Nigeria Pitch Awards

For the purpose of rewarding excellence in Nigerian football, the Nigeria Pitch Awards in last five years have recognized and rewarded individuals, corporate organizations, Nigerian players (home and abroad), for their contributions in the growth and development of Nigerian football.

Super Eagles stars Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun and Wilfred Ndidi as well as Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala have all been nominated for accolades at the fifth edition of the 2017/2018 Nigeria Pitch Awards coming up in June in Lagos

Other nominees for the 5th editions of the awards are Ikechukwu Ezenwa of FC Ifeanyi Ubah , Leon Balogun, FSV Mainz 05, Germany, Wilfred Ndidi – Leicester City FC, England, and Carl Ikeme of England’s Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Dele Ajiboye of Plateau United FC of Jos, William Troost-Ekong of Bursaspor, Turkey, Shehu Abdullahi of Anothosis Famagusta FC, Anthony Okpotu – Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi and Odion Ighalo – Changchun Yatai.

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The rest are Stephen Odey – MFM FC/FC Zurich, Charity Rueben- Ibom Angels, Rasheedat Ajibade – FC Robo and Amarachi Okonkwo – Nasarawa Amazons.

Fidelis Elechukwu of MFM FC, Gernot Rohr of Super Eagles and Kennedy Boboye of Plateau United were nominated for the Coach of the Year Award.

Lagos, Rivers and Delta were nominated for State with the Best Grassroots Development programme.

Governors nominated for the Football Friendly Governors of the Year are: Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, Gov. Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom and Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.

Also for the Sam Okwaraji Award for Commitment to Nigerian Football, Amaju Pinnick, President, NFF, Shehu Dikko – 2nd Vice-President, NFF and Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, Chairman, FC Ifeanyi Ubah were equally nominated.

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Commenting on this year’s award, Shina Philips, President, Nigeria Pitch Award, said the awards had continued to grow to become a significant part of the football calendar in spite of challenges of securing sponsorship and partnership did not deterred the organisation’s resolve to make the awards an essential part of the nation’s football culture.

“The Nigeria Pitch Awards is a platform for recognising, rewarding and celebrating talented and industrious footballers and other stakeholders in Nigerian football.

“Since the introduction of the awards five years ago, it has continued to grow to become a significant and essential part of our football society,’’ he said.

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Philips added that organising a credible and transparent reward system for Nigerian footballers and stakeholders would help youths to imbibe the culture of hard work, patriotism and honesty.

The president of the award added that he was grateful for all partners and all corporate bodies that had identified with the award since the project began.

“We thank the Federal Ministry of Sports and Nigeria Football Federation for their immense support.

“We thank SIAO Partners, Nigeria’s foremost accounting firm for being our independent vote collation body for displaying professionalism in the collation of results and the entire voting process.

“We are also buoyed by the responses we have received from sports journalists, Nigerian footballers and administrators,’’ he said.

Aisha Falode, Chairperson, Nigeria Women Football League congratulated the organisers of the award, saying that it would build the confidence of young people in the nation’s football.

“The Nigerian youths can be engaged through entertainment and sports with football being the most enticing when it comes to sports,’’ she said.

Falode urged sports journalists and stakeholders to support the award because of its credibility and assured that the awards get the necessary support to expand in scope.

Buri Olugbami, an official of SIAO Partners, said that SIAO recognised the potential of football and its impact in providing youth development.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2017/18 AWARD CEREMONY

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

1. Carl Ikeme             Wolverhampton Wanderers
2. Ikechukwu Ezenwa Ifeanyi Ubah FC
3. Dele Ajiboye Plateau United FC

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

1. Leon Balogun FSV Mainz 05
2. William Troost-Ekong Bursapor FC
3. Shehu Abdullahi Anothosis Famagusta FC

MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR

1. John Mikel Obi Tianjin Teda
2. Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC
3. Victor Moses Chelsea FC

STRIKER OF THE YEAR

1. Victor Moses Chelsea FC
2. Anthony Okpotu Lobi Stars FC
3. Odion Ighalo Changchun Yatai

MVP (MEN) IN THE NPFL

1. Ikechukwu Ezenwa Ifeanyi Ubah FC
2. Stephen Odey MFM FC/FC Zurich
3. Anthony Okpotu Lobi Stars FC

MVP (WOMEN) IN THE NWFL

1. Charity Rueben Ibom Angels
2. Rasheedat Ajibade FC Robo
3. Amarachi Okonkwo Nasarawa Amazons

COACH OF THE YEAR

1. Fidelis Elechukwu MFM FC
2. Gernot Rohr Super Eagles
3. Kennedy Boboye Plateau United

CLUB/TEAM OF THE YEAR

1. Super Eagles
2. Plateau United FC
3. MFM FC

REFEREE OF THE YEAR

1. Ferdinand Udoh
2. Adebimpe Quadri
3. Ogabor Joseph

STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

1. Lagos State
2. Rivers State
3. Delta State

FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR

1. His Excellency Godwin Obaseki Edo State
2. His Excellency Emmanuel Udom Akwa Ibom State
3. His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode Lagos State

SAM OKWARAJI AWARD FOR COMMITMENT TO NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

1. Shehu Dikko 2nd Vice President, NFF
2. Amaju Melvin Pinnick President, NFF
3. Chief Ifeanyi Ubah Chairman, Ifeanyi Ubah FC

CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD

1. Aiteo Group
2. Nigerian Breweries plc
3. Coca Cola plc

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (PRINT)

1. Johnny Edwards Complete Sports
2. Tana Aiyejina Punch Newspapers
3. Olalekan Okusan The Nation Newspapers

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (RADIO)

1. Godwin Enakhena Top Radio FM
2. Olawale Adigun Top Radio FM
3. Tony Bekederemo Brila FM

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (TV)

1. Austin Okon-Akpan Channels TV
2. Godwin Enakhena LTV/SportsSplash
3. Mozez Praiz Supersport

QUEEN OF THE PITCH

1. Rasheedat Ajibade FC Robo
2. Rueben Charity Ibom Angels
3. Asisat Oshoala Dalian Quanjian

KING OF THE PITCH

1. Victor Moses Chelsea FC
2. Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC
3. John Mikel Obi Tiajin Teda

Anthony Nlebem