By: Gracious Akujobi
Nigeria and Chelsea FC of England midfield lynchpin, John Mikel Obi, has spoken of his excitement at the upcoming inaugural edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, which has been slated for 17th November, 2013 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Last year, the Nigeria Football Federation endorsed Matchmakers Consult Limited International to stage the first-ever Nigeria football awards blessed with the full backing of the supreme governing body for
the game in the country.
In November last year, the pre-event Night of Stars, designed to generate nationwide awareness for the Awards, held with resounding success at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar.
Mikel Obi, perhaps the most influential player in the Super Eagles’ squad that triumphed at the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in South Africa earlier in the year, said at the weekend that he is definitely
looking forward to the event.
“Awards serve as great incentives for sports people all over the world. There is no doubt that awards compensate for all the hard work all year round. Every sports person looks forward to receiving awards
which they treasure.
“The Nigeria Pitch Awards has come at the right time. I am personally looking forward to the event in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State after we must have qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals. The ceremony will serve as a real gloss on our World Cup qualification.”
The lubricator, who scored a brilliant goal for Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil in June, says he would be happy to pick up an award at the event.
“Of course, I will be happy to pick up an award. It will be a real delight for me and I hope it will be a great event in every sense of the word.”
The Nigeria Pitch Awards will honour stalwarts in every area of the football pitch, as well as to referees, administrators, coaches, sponsors, sports-loving State Governments and other stakeholders.
At the weekend, Chief Executive of Matchmakers Consult, Shina Philips, assured that his organisation is working assiduously towards ensuring a very credible and successful ceremony.
“We have laid out a transparent process that will ensure the credibility of the Awards, and as for the ceremony itself, we are leaving no stone unturned to guarantee a highly successful and colourful event. We are working with the Nigeria Football Federation to be able to deliver a showpiece that every Nigerian will be proud of.
“Our commitment to serving the football community a glorious event is huge. We have ploughed on all along with tremendous faith and despite all odds, and now, we are at a stage that we can boast that everything is going according to plan for us to kick-start something that will run for many, many years to come.”
