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Tag: Amaju Pinnick

  • Minister orders overhaul of Super Eagles

    Minister orders overhaul of Super Eagles

    Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has called for an overhaul of the Super Eagles technical and administrative structure to achieve better results.

    The minister gave the order on Tuesday in Abuja at a meeting with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials to review the Technical Report of the Nigeria/Sierra Leone AFCON Qualifiers and other matters.

    Mr John Joshua-Akanji, Special Adviser to the minister, disclosed this in a statement.

    The minister stressed the need to adhere strictly to the terms of contact of Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, especially on performance and development of the game.

    “The recent dismal performance of the Super Eagles in their qualifiers against Sierra Leone has raised a few concerns and brought to fore, the need to do a quick critique.

    “The government, while concerned about the dismal performance and non discernible pattern of play and team harmony in the Super Eagles, is looking beyond the outcome of the Nigeria versus Sierra Leone matches and AFCON.

    “We are looking at the present and future administration of football that speaks to the development of the front room and backroom,” he said.

    Dare emphasised the need for the NFF to hold Rohr to the terms of his contract.

    “The NFF must tightly hold the Technical Adviser to the KPIs in his contract. Thus, we cannot wait for those conditions to come to life, before we tighten the screws or demand a higher or better performance, better technical depth, better player mix and team harmony and a functional national team.

    “The Federal Government will ask the tough and relevant questions. The NFF should do the same. The right of Nigerians to ask of government and indeed NFF explanations for dismal performances and football administration cannot be simply characterised as interference.

    “On our part, we will work to support the NFF but we will also demand for answers and changes too on behalf of Nigerians.

    “CAF and FIFA, while we appreciate their working partnerships, are expected to support Nigeria in its quest to ensure an effectual football administration.

    “Football is now both business and politics. A tool of diplomacy. Governments are more than interested in how its run. The FGN is interested even beyond that. Football is a source of national pride. A rallying point and promoter of peace and unity.

    “Nigeria at this point must use the opportunity of the outcome of the Nigeria/Sierra Leone match to X-ray other factors beyond the technical adviser that must have contributed to the dismal performance,” he added.

    Earlier, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, while providing a background to what happened, assured the minister that NFF would be more proactive going forward.

    He said a few changes and adjustments as discussed and suggested by the ministry will be put into motion.

    Pinnick said some of the changes to the team would include a physical trainer, nutritionist, a psychologist and at least
    two match readers.

    He also emphasised the need to inject three to four home-based players into the team, picked from the professional league, while Rohr must watch weekly NPFL games and evolve a scientific template to benchmark the performance of the team.

  • NFF yet to receive FIFA, CAF money – Pinnick

    NFF yet to receive FIFA, CAF money – Pinnick

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation , Amaju Pinnick, says the federation is yet to receive COVID – 19 palliatives from world body FIFA and CAF .

    Pinnick said once the federation took delivery of the funds, external auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, would ensure they were properly distributed.

    Newsmen had reported that FIFA approved $1m as universal solidarity grant to all member associations, while an additional $500,000 was specifically assigned for women’s football.

    CAF also released $ 300,000 as grant to mitigate challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, while the NFF got $ 200,000 from sponsors Nike and Coca Cola.

    “We’ve not received all the money, we’ve not received the one from CAF, we’ve not received from FIFA, once we receive, we are talking to PWC so that it’s not just distribution, they have to monitor how it is done, they have to monitor what we are doing to ensure it gets to the end users,” Pinnick told BBC.

    “Once we get the money, we will notify the ministry, the only one we have right now is what we have been able to warehouse from Cocacola and Nike. You can see that it is $ 2m – $1.5m from FIFA , $300,000 from CAF and $200,000 from the federation . We are going to religiously adhere to that principle.”

  • We won’t beg Arsenal star to play for Super Eagles – Pinnick

    We won’t beg Arsenal star to play for Super Eagles – Pinnick

    President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick has insisted the country is blessed with talents and will not beg Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka or any player to represent the Super Eagles.

    The 18-year-old has been in fine form since breaking into the Gunners’ first team and this season he has become a key member of Mikel Arteta’s side.

    The versatile forward has scored four goals and provided 11 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions for the Emirates Stadium outfit in the current campaign.

    “Saka is an excellent prospect but we have other players in his position who are playing so well,” Pinnick said in an Instagram Live chat.

    “We have talents everywhere so we won’t beg people to play for Nigeria. It is about ardour and fervour, If it’s their desire and they merit it, they’ll be given a chance to represent Nigeria.”

  • NFF, Pinnick under fire over Rohr’s contract

    NFF, Pinnick under fire over Rohr’s contract

    Wahidi Akanni, a former Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been unfair to Gernot Rohr, the Super Eagles’ Head Coach.

    Akanni spoke on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said that the public disclosure of terms and conditions of a possible renewal of Rohr’s contract by the NFF was unnecessary.

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick recently disclosed that Rohr would be handed a new contract to sign if he agreed to the terms.

    But Akanni, an ex-international, said making Rohr’s contract public as Pinnick did would only mean that the two parties had not been communicating effectively.

    “I think, with the back and forth media correspondences between NFF and Rohr, it is obvious that both are not talking.”

    He insisted that a contract between an employee and his employer should not be in the public for that matter.

    “Changing the terms of an employee’s contract also should not be a problem if it’s acceptable by the employee.”

    Hoping that the matter will be resolved amicably soon, Akanni said: “one must acknowledge that NFF has no right to make the contract public because this will bring in a lot of negative sentiments against the coach”.

  • Coronavirus has damaged football – Amaju Pinnick

    With clubs currently speaking with players and agents to accept a pay cut, and the shutdown of various football competitions around the world, Coronavirus has left a sour taste in the mouth of football faithful.

    These were the thoughts of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick.

    Speaking in a monitored interview in Lagos, Pinnick lamented that a lot of money have gone down the drain, because no football activities have taken place in the last two months to generate income.

    He pointed at the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga and German Bundesliga as some examples.

    “The English Premier League is one of the most priceless leagues in the world. On TV rivalry alone, they have lost about 800 million pounds. La Liga has lost about 780 million Euros, the Italian Serie A have lost 750 million Euros.

    “The German Bundesliga is engaging their TV right holders and negotiating with them. Bieng Sports and Canal, the two TV right owners of the French Ligue 1, they are meant to pay 200 million Euros but they cannot pay because there is no content. It is a major minus to World football.” Pinnick said

    Speaking on how Coronavirus have affected football activities in Nigeria, the NFF boss revealed “We ought to have started our Aiteo/NFF Cup. We don’t know if this can happen again, even if an abridged version.

    “We were planning for our highly revered NFF/Aiteo award, where the FIFA President was scheduled to attend, because we wanted to celebrate our girls that got to the quarter finals of the 1999 FIFA World Cup. We don’t know if it will hold again, and even if it holds, it will not be very loud.”

    Amaju Pinnick however said that this is a time for reflection, and everyone all over the world should make good use of it.

    “No doubt, this is a time of reflection. If after COVID-19, you do not come out with something new, then it means that you are not part of this planet. We are going to come out with some new ideas after now.”

    The President spoke on how Nigerian players are faring period. According to him, many of them intend to come back to Nigeria.

    “We are in touch with all our players, I spoke with the Super Eagles captain, and the players also have a network where they speak to themselves.

    The players even intend to come back to Nigeria; it’s just that they are trying to get clearance.

    Onazi called me to inform me that his club gave him a jet, and he was asking how he could get a landing permit. Kalu called to tell me that he is in Lagos and he is happy with reactions he is seeing from government.

    On the future of Nigerian football, Pinnick said “We are working with the team and we will see how we can right many wrongs and chart a new focus and see how we can build Nigerian football to that stead which we have always craved for”

  • Pinnick applauds FG’s intervention on COVID-19, clears air on Rohr’s contract

    Pinnick applauds FG’s intervention on COVID-19, clears air on Rohr’s contract

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Melvin Pinnick has lauded the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria(FGN) in containing the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, describing measures taken so far as “effective and re-assuring”.

    Speaking on Arise TV yesterday Pinnick said: “I want to commend the Federal Government for the efforts so far in tackling this pandemic. The Government’s strategy across all the States of the Federation has paid off and it is incumbent on all of us citizens to join the global army to fight this virus off the planet Earth.

    “On our part at the NFF. We are working with stakeholders, taking a cue from (world football –governing body) FIFA to intervene in certain areas.

    “As an individual, I have a foundation by the name Brownhill Foundation, which has taken measures to support what the Government is doing, but we don’t want to talk about this. We are doing what we can in Delta and Lagos States and some other places.”

    On the impact of the pandemic on the Nigeria football sector, with the game having been shut down since 19th March 2020, Pinnick stated: “We will sit down with our (official premium) partners AITEO with regards to the AITEO Cup competition, to see how we can still put this year’s edition together.

    “There is also the AITEO/NFF Awards (in its third edition). This year’s edition is meant to celebrate the Super Falcons. We have plans to celebrate them but we don’t know how to go about it. So, we will sit down with our sponsors to figure things out.”

    On the ad-hoc committee set up by the football –ruling body to investigate the death of Nasarawa United FC player Chineme Martins and recommend appropriate safety, security and medical measures in the interest of the domestic game, Pinnick disclosed that the panel has finished its field work. “The committee has worked to an appreciable level; done with its report. The members have done a great job in a short time and I must commend them.

    Meanwhile the NFF President also revealed the conditions in the new contract offered to Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr.

    Rohr has been at the helm of the national team since 2016 and his current contract is expected to expire in July.

    On Monday, Pinnick disclosed the German coach has been offered a new deal which comes with receiving his salary in local currency (naira) and also staying in the West African country.

    “We have told him. He must live in Nigeria. His salary will be in naira. He must go around the leagues and see how he can nurture the players,” Pinnick told Arise TV. “If he is able to accept it, we have a deal.

    There are a lot of coaches that want to coach Nigeria.

    “We will seek legal opinions on international coaches’ contracts. We shall also seek the opinion of the Sports Ministry. He should get the contract (with the new conditions) in about a week’s time so that he can revert after studying it.”

    Rohr has enjoyed success with the Super Eagles since his arrival, guiding them to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and a third-place place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

    The three-time African champions are on course to qualify for the 2021 AFCON as they sit on top of Group L after securing back-to-back wins in their first two qualifying games.

  • Alleged fraud: Court insists NFF boss Pinnick, others must appear

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has insisted on the appearance of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and four others to answer to a pending criminal charge against them.

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order yesterday at the resumed hearing in the charge brought against them by the Federal Government, through the now disbanded Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) on the recovery of public property.

    Those charged with Pinnick are NFF Secretary, Sanusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh.

    Pinnick and others are, in the charge 17-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019, accused among others, of misappropriation of $8,400,000 belonging to the football body.

    The money was said to have been paid by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees in the group state of the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    They are also accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4bn” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF.

    When the case was called on Thursday, the defendants were absent, despite the court’s order of July 1, 2019 for bench warrant compelling the defendants to appear on the next adjourned date.

    SPIP’s lawyer, Celsius Ukpong drew the court’s attention to the fact that his agency, (the SPIP) has been shut down on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ukpong said, because of the development and subsequent directive by the President, SPIP’s activities and functions have been transferred to the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    He added that part of the SPIP’s activities transferred to the AGF was the case file containing the Pinnick and others’ charge and related processes.

    Ukpong said: “It was the panel that file the charges. But, we have been disbanded and President Buhari directed us to handover all our activities to the office of the AGF.

    ” In view of the new development, we believe that the office of the AGF will do justice to this matter.”

    A lawyer, who said he was from the AGF’s office, Abubakar Musa confirmed Ukpong’s explanation, but said he believed the case file was in transition to the office of the AGF, following the closure of the SPIP by the President.

    After listening to the lawyers, Justice Ojukwu expressed displeasure at the defendants’ absence.

    She noted that it was a slight on the court for its order to be ignored by the defendants, and threatened to excuse herself from the case.

    The judge noted that had the defendants been in court, she would have excused them in view of the absence of a competent prosecution counsel before the court.

    The judge thereafter, adjourned until November 5, 2019, but insisted that the defendants must attend court.

  • Pinnick opens up on corruption allegations against him, NFF board

    Pinnick opens up on corruption allegations against him, NFF board

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has dismissed allegations of corruption and financial misappropriation leveled against him and his board.

    Pinnick and his board are alleged to have embezzled $650,000, originally meant for a friendly match against Bolivia in Uyo in 2015, donated by the former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio.
    Speaking on a radio programme, The Hangout, on Metro FM and Bond FM, Pinnick said they were simply misinformed.

    He explained that the Ebola outbreak at the time, prevented Bolivia from traveling to Nigeria, although they hinged their refusal to honour the international friendly on security concerns.

    According to Pinnick, the NFF later got Uganda as a late replacement and at the end of the match which was played on March 25, the balance was refunded to the Akwa Ibom State government.

    “We were meant to play Bolivia and it was captured. That money was not given to us by FIFA, it was given to us by the Akwa Ibom State government. I went to the Liaison office in Abuja to see Akpabio then the governor of Akwa Ibom State and he said let’s play Bolivia.

    “But because there was Ebola in Nigeria, Bolivia didn’t want to come out to say it was Ebola, they cited security issues because it was the day after the national election that brought in President Buhari in 2015.

     

    “After Bolivia turned down our request, we had about 4 days to work out something, that prompted our call to the Ugandans and they were very happy and they came to Akwa Ibom and they even defeated us there in Akwa Ibom. And we did plus and minus and the balance was given to the Akwa Ibom State government,” he said.

    Pinnick also slammed claims that NFF board members are in office for personal gains.

    “For me as president, I forfeited my legitimate entitlements to housing which my predecessors had always collected as I am not interested in dipping my hands into the NFF finances.

    “My predecessor (Aminu Maigari) got N12m to N13m every year for accommodation. In four years that is N48m. I have been president for five years, I have the same entitlements, I have not collected a dime for accommodation.

    “The reason why I am doing that is not because I have too much money, but simply following my passion. So when I hear people say NFF board members are corrupt I wonder where the corruption is coming from.

    “The Executive Members are driven by passion and are not there because of what to benefit; please these people should allow us run Nigerian football.

    “From the start of my tenure till date, it’s been one induced crisis to the other. The distractions have remained our only impediment not to attain one hundred percent self-funding by now.

    “What we tried to do is to build Nigerian football and allow corporate companies look at it as an entity they can partner not just for prominence or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) but a relationship that will also be beneficial to them.

    “The decision of some persons to constantly attack me and the board serves no good purpose and has been counterproductive because it ditches the drive to get more private sector partners to invest and help grow the game locally.

    “The protracted Chris Giwa crisis cost the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) from going back on television. The flag off of the La Liga / NPFL Under 15 tourney was also stopped.

    “Obviously, people do not understand the magnitude of destruction which has plagued Nigerian football due to this crisis,” he added.

  • FIFA approves Stephen Keshi Stadium, as Obasanjo commissions main bowl

    World football governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has approved the Stephen Keshi Stadium for international football championship.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick made this known on Sunday at Super Eagles arrival at the Asaba International Airport after their qualifying match for AFCON with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

    The NFF President stated that it was a thing of pride for the Super Eagles to travel through the Asaba International Airport.

    “When it was announced yesterday (Saturday) that we are boarding and flying to Asaba, it gave me great joy, it shows that God rules supreme in Delta State, we have qualified for AFCON and we are going to Cameroon to make great impact.

    “On behalf of NFF, I thank the Governor and the good people of Delta State for their show of enthusiasm since the Super Eagles came, that stadium is wonderful and the Super Eagles will beat Uganda in their friendly match, remember that the Ugandan Team has also qualified for AFCON,” Amaju said.

    Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is in Delta state to commission some key projects of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, including the main bowl of the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

    The former president will also commission the old Lagos-Asaba road, Agbor and the Owa-Eke/Owa-Alero road in Ika North East Local Government Area.

     

  • Asaba airport excites Gov. Okowa, NFF President

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has described the first international flight into the Asaba International Airport as momentous as it brought back the Super Eagles from South Africa after qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Governor Okowa described the moment thus while receiving the Super Eagles on arrival at the Asaba International Airport after their qualifying match for AFCON with the Bafana Bafana football club of South Africa.

    Governor Okowa who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Hon. Tam Brisibe, stated, “this is momentous bearing in mind that the flight successfully took the Super Eagles to South Africa and came back without hitches.

    “It is more gratifying to note that the Super Eagles trained at the Stephen Keshi Stadium before leaving for South Africa through the Asaba Airport; they went to South Africa and qualified for Cameroon 2019”.

    He further stated that “the principal thing was qualifying for Cameroon and by God’s grace, we have qualified for AFCON, we congratulate the Super Eagles for making Nigeria proud”.

    President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Pinnick Amaju said he was excited that FIFA has approved the Stephen Keshi Stadium for international football championship, adding that it was a thing of pride for the Super Eagles to travel through the Asaba International Airport.

    “When it was announced yesterday (Saturday) that we are boarding and flying to Asaba, it gave me great joy, it shows that God rules supreme in Delta State, we have qualified for AFCON and we are going to Cameroon to make great impact,” Mr Amaju said, emphasising, “on behalf of NFF, I thank the Governor and the good people of Delta State for their show of enthusiasm since the Super Eagles came, that stadium is wonderful and the Super Eagles will beat Uganda in their friendly match, remember that the Ugandan Team has also qualified for AFCON”.

    Special Project Director of Asaba International Airport, Chief Austin Ayomedejo, in an encounter, said, “I feel excited, we give God the glory for using the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to achieve this great fit; what is more important is that we have been upgraded to Category C airport, which allows bigger aircraft to land”.