President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick on Thursday paid an unscheduled visit to Nigeria’s U- 17 Women Football team’s training at Abuja National Stadium where he assured the squad that their welfare is not negotiable.
Addressing the players and crew ahead of the crucial FIFA U- 17 Women’s World Cup African qualifying match against Namibia”s junior women side in Abuja on Saturday, Pinnick told the girls that the NFF under his watch has packaged an enduring reward system for the age- grade teams to ensure the players benefit from serving the country.
He asked the players to go ahead on Saturday to do Nigeria proud saying the over 170 million citizens are behind them to defeat their Namibian counterparts.
According to him no less a personality than the Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has agreed to lead the football fans to cheer the Flamingos to victory.
Responding to the president’s address the chief coach Bala Nkiyu assured the NFF boss that his team is primed to beat any opposition on their way to Jordan 2016, pointing out that Namibia will not stop Nigeria from qualifying for the World Cup final in Jordan.
Meanwhile, NFF President used the forum to introduce veteran sports journalist, Harry Awurumibe to the team and media as his newly appointed Special Adviser on Women’s Football Affairs.
Pinnick who described Awurumibe as a passionate promoter of the women’s game said the new appointee will be his eyes and ears in not only the Flamingos but in Falconets and Super Falcons as well.
He reiterated his big plans to return Nigerian national teams-male and female to the glorious days.
