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Tag: Nigeria Pitch Awards

  • Nigeria Pitch Awards set to hold in March 2023

    Nigeria Pitch Awards set to hold in March 2023

    The Matchmakers consult, organizers of the Nigerian Pitch Awards (NPA) on Tuesday revealed that the ninth edition of the awards will hold in March 2023.

    The awards organizers also added that voting for different categories of the Awards will start on December 1 2023.

    This was made known by the President of the NPA, Shina Philips at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, he added that voting will linger for a month and two weeks to provide avenue for judges to take their time to vote.

    The awards which has been dubbed the most credible sporting awards in Nigeria will dish out plaques to footballers and administrators in different categories.

    Asked when the nominees for the awards will be released, Shina noted that after the judges had voted the nominees will be released in February 2023.

    He said “The nominees will be announced on Tuesday, February 2023 while the ceremony will tentatively hold in March 2023 at a yet to be fixed venue and date,” said Philips.

    He however assured that the organizers will continue to uphold the standard of the event with a promise that the next edition will be bigger and better than the previous ones.

    “As organisers of this prestigious football awards, we remain committed top our core principles of credibility, transparency and integrity.

    “From inception, we set out by adopting a voting system that is transparent. Our voters, who are Sports Editors and journalists across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT), Abuja; our partners; the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and SIAO Partners have remained committed to the success of the NPA,” he said.

    Also speaking at the briefing, Director of Communications of the NFF, Demola Olajire revealed that the cordial relationship that exist between the NFF and NPA will continue to grow stronger.

    He said “The relationship between the organiers and the NFF will continue to soar higher and higher because we believe in the awards and we have always been looking forward to it year in, year out.

    However, Shina Phillips also tipped the Super Eagles to bounce back from the present poor run of form after their inability to feature at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.

    According to him,  the Super Eagles have what it takes to bounce back and start churning out good results.

  • Osimhen, Oshoala emerge Winners at 8th Nigeria Pitch Awards

    Osimhen, Oshoala emerge Winners at 8th Nigeria Pitch Awards

    Super Eagles and Napoli FC’s sensation, Victor Osimhen, emerged the biggest winner of the 8th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards. The Nigerian striker, who was confirmed Player of the Month for March in the Serie A, emerged the Striker of the Year and the King of the Pitch making him Nigeria’s Most Valuable Player for 2021.

    Super Falcons and FC Barcelona Femení goal scorer, Asisat Oshoala continued her dominance of the women’s award category as she named the Queen of the Pitch for the fourth time.

    The 8th Award Ceremony which started three hours after the World Cup Qualifier encounter between Nigeria and Ghana lasted until the early hours of the 30th March 2022. The gathering observed a minute’s silence in honour of those who lost their lives during the attack on the ill-fated Kaduna bound train on Monday 28.

    Welcoming guests to the annual show, Shina Philips, President of the awards, encouraged Nigerians to put the disappointment of the inability of the country to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Qatar behind them and look forward to a better future with the Super Eagles.

    ‘Nigerians love football and always expect to win in every game, Philips said. Continuing, he noted, ‘the reality however is that every football match can end in a win, a draw or a loss. We will move on and become stronger in future. We have been champions before and will be champions again in future.’

    Philips stated that organizers were not oblivious of the mood of the nation. ‘We understand that many Nigerians are disappointed but we wish to remind Nigerians that the nation has won many football matches and competitions and we ought to continue to encourage the players by rewarding them for their commitment, industry and display of talent in 2021’, Philips concluded.

    The ceremony which was anchored by legendary Nollywood actor, Segun Arinze lived up the expectations of guests, players, nominees and voters. In the Goalkeeper of the year category, Maduka Emilio Okoye emerged winner while Super Eagles Captain, William Troost-Ekong beat fello compatriots, Olisa Ndah and Lean Balogun to win the Defender of the year award for the third time.

    Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester City FC was named the Midfielder of the Year and Victor Osimhen starved off competition from Genk FC’s Paul Onuachu and Leicester City FC’s Kelechi Iheanacho to lift the Striker of the Year award.

    In other categories, 2021 League winners, Akwa United and Coach Kennedy Boboye were voted the Team of the Year and Coach of the Year respectively.

    Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, NFF First Vice President emerged the winner of the Sam Okwaraji Award for commitment to Nigerian football. Continuing in her dominance, Lagos State again won the Award for the State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme as His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of the state was voted the Football Friendly Governor of the Year.

    In the media category, Punch Newspapers’ Johnny Edwards and Brila 88.9 FM’s Tony Bekederemo emerged winners in the Football Journalist of the Year (Print) and Football Journalist of the Year (Radio) respectively. Cecilia Omorogbe of Channels TV and Shina Oludare of Goal.com charted home the Football Journalist of the Year awards in the TV and Online categories’ respectively.

    Major highlights of the night was the presentation of the Sportsmanship Award to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba for his tactical use of peace overtures in fighting crime across the nation. Receiving the award on his behalf, AIG Hafiz Inuwa, the Force Secretary of the Nigeria Police said the IGP would like to encourage Nigerians to shake-off the disappointment of the nation’s loss of a World Cup ticket and focus on what the future holds.

    Another interesting highlight was the presentation of the Achievement in Sport Award to business mogul, Sir Kesington Adebukola Adebutu also popularly known as ‘Baba Ijebu’. He was honoured for his contributions to the development of grassroots football through his sponsorship of the annual Sir Kesington Adebukola Adebutu Competition for boys and girls. The competition has been going on for 11 years.

  • Nigeria Pitch Awards: Transparency, integrity our watchword – Shina Philips

    Nigeria Pitch Awards: Transparency, integrity our watchword – Shina Philips

    The annual award ceremony of the Nigeria Pitch Awards is here again and as usual, excitement, anxiety and expectations among nominees, their supporters and football fans are mounting. The award ceremony is billed to kick-off two hours after the second leg clash between age-old rivals, Nigeria and Ghana for a slot at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later in the year. The excitement is palpable and the wait appears endless.

    8th Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony holds in Abuja 29 March

    http://thenewsguru.ng/football/8th-nigeria-pitch-awards-ceremony-holds-in-abuja-29-march/

    As preparations continue, organizers have restated their commitment to the ideals of transparency, credibility and integrity as the Nigeria Pitch Awards continues on its historic stride as the country’s longest running football awards.

    Mr. Shina Philips, the President of the awards explains that there is a tripartite arrangement which ensures that no single group has full control of the award process. ‘The award process’, he said, ‘involves three categories. First, we have the College of Voters comprising about 200 experienced and professional sport editors, analysts, columnists, correspondents and reporters who make the award decisions independently.’

    Speaking further, Philips noted that no voter is paid or influenced in any way and by any means to make award decisions. ‘The College of Judges are not paid. These voters are professional men and women who put their integrity on the line by making incontrovertible decisions that can stand the test of time. The decisions are without doubt based on very well-thought analyses and premises. This has clearly reflected in the wide acceptance of winners since 2013.’

    ‘The second category’, Philips explains, ‘is the firm responsible for collating and auditing the results. They are auditors with over 20 years’ experience providing professional services to clients in different sectors. They have a team which is saddled with the responsibility of collating the results. After collation, another team within the firm audits the results before a shortlist is announced to the public.’

    The shortlist, Philips explains, comprises the names of the top three nominees with the highest points in each category. The nominee with the highest score among the top three is announced as winner at the award ceremony.

    Mr. Philips noted that Matchmakers Consult International are the last category of people involved in the award process. ‘We only midwife the entire process. We are not involved in the voting or collation process. The company’s responsibility is to organize an award ceremony which Nigerians can be proud of.’

    ‘The integrity of the award process is essential to sustaining popular interest in the awards. People who vote must be confident that their votes will not be altered and that their decisions will be adequately reflected. Those who emerge as nominees and winners must be proud to be so honoured knowing that the process leading to their emergence was credible and transparent.’

    Speaking on the future of the award, Mr. Philips said the award is self-sustaining. ‘In addition to the votes by our primary voters, that is, the sport editors, we are looking at expanding the voter base to include members of the public for some categories. However, we will leave our College of Voters to make that decision in due course’, he concluded.

  • 8th Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony holds March 27 in Abuja

    8th Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony holds March 27 in Abuja

    Organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards on Saturday announced plans to host the 8th Award Ceremony after the FIFA World Cup play-off final leg between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana on 27th March in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    In a statement, Mr Shina Philips, President of the awards said that in addition to announcement of winners for all award categories, Dr Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, wife of the President will be honoured with the Special Achievement in Sports Award for her contributions to the development of women football in Africa.

    Nigeria Pitch Awards

    Philips also confirmed that Mrs Betsy Obaseki, Edo State First Lady; IGP Usman Alkali Baba, the Inspector General of Police and; Mr. Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member will be honoured during the ceremony.

    Other highlights of the 8th Award Ceremony will include announcement of winners in 17 award categories. It will be noted that organizers unveiled nominees for the 8th edition of the awards on 5th January 2022 in Lagos.

    The King of the Pitch category will be a straight contest between the Napoli FC of Italy forward Victor Osimhen, Leicester City FC of England midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and KRC Genk hitman Paul Onuachu. In the Queen of the Pitch category, FC Barcelona Feminino striker Asisat Oshoala will square up against the FC Robo Queens sensation, Gift Monday and Linkopings FC of Sweden’s Uchenna Kalu.

    In the Football Friendly Governor of the Year category, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State will compete for the crown.

    Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City FC is up against Napoli FC’s Victor Osimhen and KRC Genk’s Paul Onuachu in the race for the Striker of the Year Award.

    The battle for the Corporate Sponsor of Football Award will be between leading airline, Air Peace, telecom giants MTN and oil and gas solutions provider AITEO Group.

    Other categories to be decided are Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sam Okwaraji Award, State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme, Football Pitch of the Year Award and Football Journalist of the Year Awards.

    PHOTO: King of the Pitch, Wilfred Ndidi receives his award from Ahmed Yusuf, Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, at the last edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.

    NLO picks instructors and officials for nationwide coaching clinic

    The Nationwide League One (NLO) has released a list of instructors and officials for the first batch of 2022 Season NFF/NLO/Berackiah Coaching Clinic which commences on Tuesday in five cities of the Federation.

    In a letter to the host Football Associations signed by Olushola Ogunnowo, Chief Operating Officer of the NLO, former Nigeria international and former U17 Boys’ National Team Head Coach, Fatai Amoo as well as Coach Adesina Amosa and Mr Tunde Shamsudeen were listed for the Lagos centre, which site is the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. Amoo and Amosa will be the instructors with Shamsudeen as official.

    The Nest of Champions, Uyo will have Coaches Caleb Esu and Emmanuel King as instructors while Mr Bright Nwanosike will serve as official. Fomer U20 Boys’ National Team Head Coach John Obuh and Coach Evans Ogenyi are in charge in the Oturkpo, Benue State centre with Mr Mike Oyinu as official.

     

    Another former U20 Boys’ National Team Head Coach, Ladan Bosso will dictate proceedings at the Birnin Kebbi centre in Kebbi State alongside Coach Haruna Usman with Abideen Fasasi as official. Coaches Alphonsus Dike and Victor Nwakanma are to hold forth in Awka, Anambra State where Kasarachi Nzeh will serve as official.

     

    Ogunnowo told thenff.com: “This is the first batch of the Coaching Clinic in this second edition of the programme. We believe this second edition will be another fabulous experience for our Coaches. The next batch will include Kwara, Kano, Plateau and Rivers States.”

  • 7th Nigeria Pitch Awards: IG of Police, Ndidi, Oshoala emerge winners

    7th Nigeria Pitch Awards: IG of Police, Ndidi, Oshoala emerge winners

    The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was among three prominent Nigerians honoured on Tuesday with a Sportsmanship award at the 7th Nigerian Pitch Awards.

    Also honoured were Wilfred Ndidi and Asisat Oshoala who emerged as the King and Queen of the Pitch respectively.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the awards ceremony was held under strict COVID-19 protocols at the Ibis International Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State.

    Adamu was honoured for his use of sports advocacy in fighting crime and ensuring a balanced Police-Civilian relationship.

    Shina Philips, the Chairman of Match Makers Consult International, the parent body of the Nigeria Pitch Award, said that he was pushing for more innovations for the awards.

    “I am looking forward to the time when the Nigeria Pitch Awards will add more value not only to the winners but all the nominees so as to boost their profile being a nominee.

    “We are so proud of this awards because of its transparency and being one of the many awards that has its voting college well audited by independent firm.

    “I am so grateful to God for giving me the courage to go on with the awards, regardless of having a sponsor or not. It is a worthy project to continue with,’’ he said.

    For the Goalkeeper of the Year , Daniel Akpeyi ward off competition from fellow teammate Francis Uzoho and the Super Falcon goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie.

    The Defender of the Year had William Troost-Ekong of Udinese FC of Italy beat his fellow Super Eagles teammates, Chidozie Awaziem (Club Deportivo, Spain) and Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes, Spain).

    The Club of the Year went to Enyimba International of Aba to beat Lobi Stars of Makurdi and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

    The Leicester City of England midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, retained the Midfielder of the Year award for the second time to beat Joe Aribo (Rangers FC, Scotland) and Oghenekaro Etebo (Getafe CF, Spain).

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa bagged the Football Friendly Award to beat Gov. Nyesom Wike and Gov. Udom Emmanuel.

    Also, the Sam Okwaraji Award for commitment to Nigeria Football was won by the 1st Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation ,Seyi Akinwunmi.

    The Corporate Sponsor of Football award had AITEO Group as winner to defeat Zenith Bank and Bet9ja.

    The high point of the award, which was the King of the Pitch, had the Leicester City of England midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi to defeat Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy) and Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain).

    The Queen of the Pitch, however, had Barcelona FC goal Poacher, Asisat Oshoala as winners to defeat the 2019 winner, Francesca Ordega (Shanghai Shengi, China) and Rasheedat Ajibade (Alvadsnes IL).

    Full List of winners

    Goalkeeper of the Year – Daniel Akpeyi

    Defender of the Year – William Troost-Ekong

    Midfielder of the Year – Wilfred Ndidi

    Striker of the Year – Victor Osimhen

    King of the Pitch – Wilfred Ndidi

    Queen of the Pitch – Francisca Ordega

    Football Journalist of the Year (Print) – Johnny Edwards of Punch Newspapers

    Football Journalist of the Year (Radio) – Wale Adigun of Top Radio

    Football Journalist of the Year (TV) – Austin Okon-Akpan

    Coach of the Year – Genort Rohr

    Club of the Year – – Enyimba FC

    National Team of the Year Enyimba International FC

    Sam Okwaraji Awards – Seyi Akinwunmi

    State with the Best Grassroots Football Development- Programme, Lagos State

    Football Friendly Gov. of the Year – Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta