Pinnick Promises To Develop Thunder Balogun Foundation

The president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has promised to help in the further development of the Teslim Thunder Balogun Foundation, and be involved in all its activities in years to come.

The NFF president made the promise in his welcome address as the Chief host at the 50th anniversary memorial ceremony of the late Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, held at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

The NFF president commended the family for ensuring the annual memorial of the late Nigerian soccer idol in the last 50 years.

He said: “Right from my secondary school days at Hussey College, Warri, Delta State, the late Teslim ‘Thunder’Balogun was a household name among young footballers across the country.
“Anybody among us who had the hottest shot during games is nicknamed Thunder Balogun. We also heard the story that Thunder Balogun shot tore a goalkeeper’s stomach while trying to stop his hot shot during a football game. But we grew up hearing the story of Thunder Balogun as the greatest Nigerian football player.

“I am happy to be a part of this event and most delighted to be in attendance here today talking about the life and times of the greatest Nigerian football player ever.

“I attended Hussey College, Warri acclaimed to be the biggest school that trained national players for Nigeria. But I was not good enough to make it as a footballer because of the high standard in my school. But I told myself that I will become one of the top football administrators in Nigeria. Today, I am not just the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, I am an executive committee member of the Confederation of African Football and a member of the FIFA Council. ”

Amaju Pinnick also noted that: “A lot of people have the erroneous impression of how Nigerian football runs. The thought thought that once you get to the Nigeria Football Federation, government regularly provide funds for all your needs wherever there are international engagements. It is not so. But I am happy that over the years since I took over as the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, we have been able to attain 90 percent autonomy from federal government funding. Our saving grace were high profile sponsorship drive and endorsements.

“I also beg to disagree with the assertion made by former Technical Director of the NFF, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, earlier on in this event, when he said Nigerian football is nose diving.

“Nigerian football is making progress by all standards. All our junior national teams, men and women: the Eaglets, Flying Eagles, Flamengoes and Falconets have qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals. The senior Women team too just picked the ticket to play in the Women’s World Cup finals.

“The Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and the Home Eagles all won the WAFU Cup titles. These are noticeable progress in Nigerian football. The only one we fell short was the World Cup qualification for the Super Eagles. It happens in football.”

Also in attendance at the Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun 50 years memorial event was the First Vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.