The founder and President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, has expressed gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for initiating the long-awaited reforms in the country’s football governing body.
In a press release in Abuja on Saturday, Philips threw his weight behind the president’s reforms, stating that the reforms would highlight the challenges facing Nigerian football and identify salient areas where presidential intervention was needed.
“The reforms initiated by the President and the National Sports Commission will highlight the challenges facing our football and draw the much-needed intervention or support from the presidency,” Philips stated.
Philips further noted that the reforms were a bold attempt to confront any perceived decline in our football and that it would leave our football revived, vibrant, and robust. He also stated that, because of the strategic importance of football in the international community and the large following it commands among Nigerians, the Government would certainly not neglect it.
“Football has a large following in the country, and during football matches involving our national teams, Nigerians become united, abandoning their differences to celebrate the national teams,” he noted.
While commending the National Sports Commission, Philips called on all parties involved to collaborate with FIFA, the football governing body, to ensure that the reforms align with its guidelines.
“The Presidency, and the National Sports Commission should work closely with the interim management in the NFF and FIFA to ensure that the reforms align closely with FIFA rules and guidelines,” Philips further said.
Philips expressed his support for the new interim management led by the experienced duo, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and Dr Ademola Olajire, while also calling on all football stakeholders to support and participate in the reform process, stressing that the growth of Nigerian football was a collective responsibility.
“I have known Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and Dr. Ademola Olajire for decades, and I know they will steer the federation in the right direction. I call on all stakeholders to give them all the support that they need to rebuild our football,” Philips noted.