October 13, 2014 – Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has challenged President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Pinnick and his board to quickly turn around the dwindling fortunes of Nigerian football.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service at the First Baptist Church, Warri, held in honur of Pinnick, Governor Uduaghan lamented that the game of football in Nigeria was at its lowest ebb.
Dr. Uduaghan said the NFF President, whom he described as knowledgeable in the game, was under pressure and obligation to quickly develop and improve the game because of the strong passion the average Nigerian has for the football game.
According to him, followers of football in the country would not spare the new board if it failed to reverse the current sorry state of the game.
The Governor particularly lamented the defeat the Senior National Team, the Super Eagles suffered in Sudan, noting that it was the worst state the country’s football has experienced in the recent past.
This state of affairs the governor observed actually required divine intervention as well hence the President’s decision to thank God and dedicate his victory, was a very wise one.
He showered encomiums on the President of the Football Federation for developing himself ahead of his current position.
Dr. Uduaghan used the occasion to call on youths to develop themselves to enable them carve a niche that would guarantee them better opportunities in life.
Amaju Pinnick on his part while thanking God and the human agents that made his victory possible, promised not to let the country and lovers of football down.
He said that his mission was to ensure an all round development of the game as obtained in England and Spain.
In his sermon, the Associate Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Rev. Justin Okoroji (jnr), challenged Pinnick to use his wealth of experience and knowledge of the game to develop it to enviable heights.
He advised the NFF President not to allow himself to be stamped into taking decisions affecting Nigerian football, particularly the appointment of a head coach for the Super Eagles. Rev. Okoroji urged Nigerians to be patriotic and work for the good of the nation.
