The reigning male African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, on Thursday got the highest nominations at the unveiling of the 10th Nigeria Pitch Awards nominees, just as Bayern Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface is poised to give the Napoli striker a run for the crowns.
Osimhe got nominated as, the `Striker of the Year’, `King of the Year’, `Sam Okwaraji’, and `Sportsmanship of the Year’ awards.
Osimhen and Boniface are pitted together for Striker and King of the Pitch Awards. For the Striker of the Year, both Osimhen and Boniface as well as Robert Miso of Bayelsa United make the three-man shortlist while Emeka Obinna of Enyimba is the third candidate shortlisted for the King of the Year Pitch Award. For the Defender of the Year, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel are the shortlisted candidates. Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Alhassan Yusuf will slug it out for the Midfielder of the Year.
For the Queen of the Pitch, it’s a straight battle between Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Assisat Oshoala.Contesting for the Team of the Year are Super Falcons, Enyimba of Aba and Remo Stars of Ikenne. The trio of Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars, Finidi George of Enyimba and Super Falcons’ Waldrum are squaring up for the Coach of the Year
Speaking on the 10th anniversary rendezvous, the President of Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips, said that the event would be a landmark.
Phillips said: “First, I thank God that we have gone this far and this is the 10th edition. We have reeled out the programmes for this unique celebration.
“We are also glad with the richness of the nominees which was released by our partners in charge of the collation. We believe that the 10th edition will be a special one.
“All the plans for the 10th anniversary cannot be reeled out at once, so, as the time comes, we will be unfolding the events. For now, we want to start with a Football Summit.”
Phillips restated that the unblemished record of the Nigeria Pitch Awards as it stands out as one of the most credible awards in Nigeria and in the continent of Africa.
NIGERIA PITCH AWARDS
NOMINEES FOR 10TH AWARD CEREMONY
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Kayode Bankole Remo Stars
Amas Obasogie Bendel Insurance
Ojo Olorunleke Enyimba FC
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Calvin Bassey Fulham FC
Ola Aina Nottingham Forest FC
Bright Osayi-Samuel Fenerbahçe SK
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
AI Hassan Yusuf Royal Antwerp FC
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC
Alex Iwobi Fulham FC
STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Robert Mizo Bayelsa United
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
Victor Boniface Bayer Leverkusen
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
Rasheedat Ajibade Atlético de Madrid Femenino
Chiamaka Nnadozi Paris FC
Asisat Oshoala FC Barcelona Femení
KING OF THE PITCH
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
Emeka Obioma Enyimba FC
Victor Boniface Bayer Leverkusen
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Super Falcons
Enyimba
Remo Stars
COACH OF THE YEAR
Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars
Finidi George Enyimba FC
Randy Waldrum Super Falcons
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
Ahmed Musa Sivasspor
Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Edo
Delta
Lagos
FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR
Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena Onikan,Lagos State
Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo,Akwa Ibom State
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
His Excellency, Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State
His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki Edo State
CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD
Bet9ja Sport Betting
GTI Financial Financial Services
MTN Nigeria Telecom
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars FC
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye Chairman, NPFL Board
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT
Christian Okparah The Guardian Newspapers
Charles Diya New Telegraph Newspapers
Johnny Edward Punch Newspapers
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV
Miyen Akiri TVC
Mozez Praiz Supersport
Cecilia Omorogbe Channels TV
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO
Olawale Adigun Mainland FM
Yinka Oyedele Brilla 88.9 FM
Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE
Samuel Ahmadu Savid News
Tobi Adepoju Oganla Media
Kunle Solaja Sportsvillagesquare.com
