Nigeria Pitch Awards: Mikel, Moses , Rohr Top List Of Nominees

SUNDAY AKINTOYE

 Captain of Super Eagles, John Mikel Obi, Chelsea midfielder, Victor Moses and head coach of the senior national team, Gernor Rohr are among the nominees  shortlisted for this year’s edition of Nigeria Pitch Awards. 

The  list of the nominees were unveiled Wednesday at a press conference held in Lagos by the organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.

Mikel is expected to battle Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Moses in the category of best mildfielder of the year,while Rohr will face Fidelis Ilechuckwu of MFM  and Kennedy Boboye of Pleateu United in the category of Best Coach of the Year.

In other category, Carl Ikeme is shortlisted along with Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Ajiboye in the Best goalkeeper of the year.

Meanwhile, the  organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards have officially announced that Lagos State would host the fifth edition of the annual award ceremony which holds in June.

President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips while addressing journalists  said Lagos is in better position to host this year’s edition considering the fact the state has contributed immensely to the growth of sports in the country.

He said the state has what it takes to host the much awaited award ceremony which is being  put together by the SIAO Partners, Nigeria’s foremost accounting firm. According to him, SIAO Partners  is an independent vote collation body which has been doing a tremendous job .

“ We are ready to organize a  memorable Nigeria Pitch Award and we are hosting the award ceremony in Lagos because we believe that the host state has what it takes  to host the successful event. We have fixed next month for the award but we will communicate to  sportswriters about the date and venue very soon,” he said.

Commenting on the process of award nominees, Philips explained that the organizers have put in place a credible and transparent reward system for Nigerian footballers and stakeholders to vote for the candidates of their choice.

“We are gathered here today to witness the public presentation of the results of the 2017/18 voting process, which took place between February and March.SIAO Partners, our Independent vote collation body has done a great job  in terms of voting process. The Nigeria Pitch Awards is a platform for recognizing, rewarding and celebrating talented and industrious footballers and other stakeholders in Nigeria football. We are proud of the standard set and the high quality of award winners,”  said Philips who promised that this year’s edition will be better than previous editions.

In her own comment, Chairperson of Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode commended the organizers for the thorough job, adding that the players that were shortlisted are nominated by the stakeholders on merit.

“ I  am very impressed with the level of work carried out by the organisers during the time of voting process. The organizers and the SIAO Partners have done well in areas of vote collation and transparency. I am looking forward to this year’s edition

 

THE NOMINEES

 

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

1.      Carl Ikeme                                          Wolverhampton Wanderers

2.      Ikechukwu Ezenwa                          Ifeanyi Ubah FC

3.      Dele Ajiboye                                      Plateau United FC

 

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

1.      Leon Balogun                                   FSV Mainz 05

2.      William Troost-Ekong                      Bursapor FC

3.      Shehu Abdullahi                               Anothosis Famagusta FC

 

MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR

1.      John Mikel Obi                                  Tianjin Teda

2.      Wilfred Ndidi                                    Leicester City FC

3.      Victor Moses                                                 Chelsea FC

 

STRIKER OF THE YEAR

1.      Victor Moses                                                 Chelsea FC

2.      Anthony Okpotu                               Lobi Stars FC

3.      Odion Ighalo                                      Changchun Yatai

 

MVP (MEN) IN THE NPFL

1.      Ikechukwu Ezenwa                           Ifeanyi Ubah FC

2.      Stephen Odey                                    MFM FC/FC Zurich

3.      Anthony Okpotu                               Lobi Stars FC

 

MVP (WOMEN) IN THE NWFL

1.      Charity Rueben                                 Ibom Angels

2.      Rasheedat Ajibade                            FC Robo

3.      Amarachi Okonkwo                          Nasarawa Amazons

 

COACH OF THE YEAR

1.      Fidelis Elechukwu                            MFM FC

2.      Gernot Rohr                                       Super Eagles

3.      Kennedy Boboye                              Plateau United

 

CLUB/TEAM OF THE YEAR

1.      Super Eagles

2.      Plateau United FC

3.      MFM FC

 

REFEREE OF THE YEAR

1.      Ferdinand Udoh

2.      Adebimpe Quadri

3.      Ogabor Joseph

 

STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

1.      Lagos State

2.      Rivers State

3.      Delta State

 

FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR

1.      His Excellency Godwin Obaseki                            Edo State

2.      His Excellency Emmanuel Udom                          Akwa Ibom State

3.      His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode                    Lagos State

 

SAM OKWARAJI AWARD FOR COMMITMENT TO NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

1.      Shehu Dikko                         2nd Vice President, NFF

2.      Amaju Melvin Pinnick        President, NFF

3.      Chief Ifeanyi Ubah              Chairman, Ifeanyi Ubah FC

 

CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD

1.      Aiteo Group

2.      Nigerian Breweries plc

3.      Coca Cola plc

 

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (PRINT)

1.      Johnny Edwards                                Complete Sports

2.      Tana Aiyejina                                    Punch Newspapers

3.      Olalekan Okusan                               The Nation Newspapers

 

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (RADIO)

1.      Godwin Enakhena                             Top Radio FM

2.      Olawale Adigun                                 Top Radio FM

3.      Tony Bekederemo                             Brila FM

 

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (TV)

1.      Austin Okon-Akpan                              Channels TV

2.      Godwin Enakhena                             LTV/SportsSplash

3.      Mozez Praiz                                       Supersport

 

QUEEN OF THE PITCH

1.      Rasheedat Ajibade                            FC Robo

2.      Rueben Charity                                 Ibom Angels

3.      Asisat Oshoala                                   Dalian Quanjian

 

KING OF THE PITCH

1.      Victor Moses                                       Chelsea FC

2.      Wilfred Ndidi                                    Leicester City FC

3.      John Mikel Obi                                  Tiajin Teda