The Nigeria Pitch Award that started like the mustard seed six years ago has blossomed and now become the big Oak as nominees for the sixth edition were announced at the Ibis Hotels, in Lagos, during the week.
An elated Shina Philips, leader of the organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards said: “The Nigeria Pitch Awards has come to stay and as organisers, we will continue to put in all that is necessary to sustain the standards that the awards have set,
“It is our delight that players, coaches, journalists and other football stakeholders now look forward to the annual award ceremonies. Our desire is to continue to up the game and inspire footballers to do more for themselves and for the country.”
At the occasion, Arsenal star, Alex Iwobi was nominated as one of the top three players in the Midfielder of the Year category alongside Wilfred Ndidi of Leceister and Stke City’s Oghenekaro Etebo while Super Eagles trio of Ahmed Musa, Odion Ighalo and Wilfred Ndidi were shortlisted for the King of the Pitch Award for the 2018/19 edition.
Speaking at the event, Nneka Eneli, Head of Corporate Services, who represented erudite accountant, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, the Managing Partner of SIAO Partners, said the shortlist of potential winners was drawn from the votes cast by sports journalists across the country between February and March 2019.
Eneli said: “Voting for the 6th edition of the awards took place between 1st February and 1st March 2019. We assure all voters of the Nigeria Pitch Awards that their votes have been adequately captured and the results are the wishes of all who voted. Let me stress again that the entire process was professionally handled by our team of accountants and auditors without any form of interference from the organisers or sponsors.”
See the full list of the nominees below.
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
IKECHUKWU EZENWA
THEOPHILUS AFELOKHAI
FRANCIS ODINAKA UDOHO
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
LEON BALOGUN WILLIAM TROOST-EKONG
KENNETH OMERUO
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
WILFRED NDIDI
ALEX IWOBI
KENNETH OMERUO
STRIKER OF THE YEAR
JUNIOR LOKOSA
ODION IGHALO
OGHENEKARO ETEBO
MVP IN NPFL 2018/19
JUNIOR LOKOSA
GODWIN AGUDA
MFOM UDOH
MVP IN THE NWFL 2018/19
ANAM IMO
EVELYN NWABUOKU
RASHEEDAT AJIBADE
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
ASISAT OSHOALA
FRANCISCA ORDEGA
RASHEEDAT AJIBADE
KING OF THE PITCH
ODION IGHALO
AHMED MUSA
WILFRED NDIDI
COACH OF THE YEAR
THOMAS DENNERBY
GBENGA OGUNBOTE
SOLOMON OGBEIDE
CLUB OF THE YEAR
AKWA UNITED
ENUGU RANGERS
LOBI STARS
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
SUPER SAND EAGLES
SUPER FALCONS
SUPER EAGLES
REFEREE OF THE YEAR
OGABOR JOSEPH ODEY
ADEBIMPE QUADRI
FERDINAND UDOH
SAM OKWARAJI AWARDS
KUNLE SONAME
AMAJU PINNICK
SEYI AKINWUNMI
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
DELTA STATE
RIVERS STATE
LAGOS STATE
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
HE UDOM EMMANUEL
HE NYESOM WIKE
HE IFEANYI OKOWA
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (PRINT).
TUNDE LIADI – THE NATION
JOHNNY EDWARDS – COMPLETE SPORTS
TANA AIYEJINA – PUNCH
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (RADIO).
GEORGE INIABASI ESSIEN – COMFORT 95.1 FM
TONY BEKEDEREMO – BRILA FM
OLAWALE ADIGUN – TOP RADIO
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (TELEVISION).
CECILIA OMOREGBE – CHANNELS TV
MOZEZ PRAIZ – SUPER SPORT
AUSTIN OKON – AKPAN – CHANNELS TV
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (ONLINE).
TOBI ADEPOJU – NAIJAFOOTBALLPLUS.COM
KUNLE SOLAJA – SPORTSVILLAGESQUARE.COM
SAMUEL AHMADU – GOAL.COM