The duo of Vincent Enyeama, Super Eagles’ Captain, John Obi Mikel and France-based striker, Desire Oparanozie, have top nomination list for various award in the 4th Nigeria Pitch Awards.
Spokesman for The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire disclosed the nominations in a statement on Tuesday in Ilorin.
“In a letter presented to NFF President, by the Managing Partner, SIAO Partners Ltd, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, the auditing firm said that voting was done by Nigeria sports editors/managers all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), between April 5 and April 23, 2017.
According to Ighodalo “The votes were collated and verified by team of Auditors and we pride ourselves as one of the best accounting and audit firms operating in Nigeria. We have approached this collation process with extreme care and with the standard professional ethics required to sustain the core values of transparency, credibility and integrity. Therefore, we take professional responsibility for the integrity of the results presented’’
Categories and nominees are
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR:
Vincent Enyeama
Carl Ikeme
Ikechukwu Ezenwa
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR:
Leon Balogun
Kenneth Omeruo
William Ekong.
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR:
John Mikel Obi
Etebo Oghenekaro
Wilfred Ndidi.
STRIKER OF THE YEAR:
Chisom Egbuchulam
Godwin Obaje
Kelechi Iheanacho.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (MVP — MEN) IN THE NPFL:
Godwin Obaje
Stephen Odey
Chisom Egbuchulam.
MVP (WOMEN) IN THE NWPL:
Osinachi Ohale
Rafiat Sule
Chioma Wogu.
QUEEN OF THE PITCH:
Desire Oparanozie
Onome Ebi
Asisat Oshoala.
KING OF THE PITCH:
Victor Moses
John Mikel Obi
Kelechi Iheanacho.
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD:
Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah
Samson Siasia
John Mikel Obi.
CLUB/TEAM OF THE YEAR:
Super Falcons
Dream Team
Enugu Rangers.
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Florence Omagbemi
Gernot Rohr
Imama Amapakabo.
REFEREE OF THE YEAR:
Adebimpe Quadri
Jelili Ogunmuyiwa
Ferdinand Udoh.
CORPORATE SPONSOR OF THE YEAR:
Globacom Limited
SuperSport
Nigeria Breweries Plc.
STATE WITH BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:
Delta State
Lagos State
Akwa Ibom State.
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR:
Nyesom Wike (Rivers)
Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom)
Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos).
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (RADIO)
Bimbo Adeola
Olawale Adigun
Arafat Aliu.
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (PRINT):
Tobi Emmanuel
Tana Aiyejina
Ade Ojeikere.
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR: (TV)
Mozez Praiz (SuperSport),
Austin Okon-Akpan (Channels TV)
Toyin Ibitoye (Channels TV).
The Pitch Awards ceremony comes up in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on June 10, few hours after the Nigeria versus South Africa 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
