The chairman of the Delta Football Association and Delta State Sports Commission, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has emerged as the 39th President of the Nigerian Football Federation after the elective congress of the football house at Golden Tulip Hotel, Warri yesterday.He polled 32 out of 44 votes to beat Dominic Iorfa, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Amanze Uchegbulam and others.
The chairman of the Lagos state football association, Seyi Akinwunmi became the new 1st vice-president of the NFF after he polled 30 votes to defeat Emeka Inyama, Adamu Shehu and Muazu Suleyman.
Christopher Green was returned to the NFF board after he won the South-south slot by defeating Oswald Atuake. The position of Chairman of Chairmen stays with Musa Gusau Ibrahim who returns unopposed.
Speaking aftaer his election as the new NFF President, here’s what Pinnick said:
“My election is ordained by God because at outset, I was going to be a member of the electoral panel until something happened and that process was scuttled. I see my election as NFF president as God wanting to use me for the purpose of reforming Nigerian football. I want all Nigerians to be patient with the new board for us to deliver the necessary change for the overall good”.
He noted that he hopes to replicate the good job he did with the Delta FA when he resumes in the glass house:
“We want to use scientific methods to build on Alhaji Aminu Maigari’s achievements at NFF. Nigeria should be within the top 20 bracket of FIFA Rankings and not where we are today” .
He also spoke on the lingering issue of a contract renewal with Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi :
“We have two very important matches ahead against Sudan and Congo in the AFCON 2015 qualifiers and don’t want to be distracted. The board will meet and come out with what football loving Nigerians will be happy about” , he said
