NFF Supremo Pinnick To Meet With FIFA Chiefs

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick will on Monday meet with FIFA President, Mr. Sepp Blatter, at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland.


The meeting at the world football –governing body’s imposing headquarters will start at 2pmSwitzerland time, which is 3pm Nigeria time.

Pinnick said on Friday that the visit is in the line of the NFF administration’s vision of constantly bonding with the world body, and also to seek more FIFA projects for Nigeria.

“Nigeria is the biggest black nation on earth. One out of every five black people in the world is a Nigerian, so our country can no longer be a silent member of world football.

“Nigeria is big deal, not only because of our population, but as a result of what we bring to the table of world football, through taking part in almost all FIFA championships, one of the very few countries in the world that is able to do that.”

The NFF President will also discuss with Mr. Blatter on more high quality projects for Nigeria, to be funded by the world body.

“Presently, we have the FIFA Technical Centre, and the FIFA Football Turf that we got through the Win-In-Africa-With-Africa programme for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We also have approval for Centres of Excellence in Bauchi, Lagos and Anambra States.

“However, the present NFF administration is of the view that the outstanding projects, for which approval has been secured, should commence immediately, and that Nigeria deserves more FIFA projects at this stage.”

Pinnick also has a scheduled meeting with Mr. Greg Dyke, Chairman of The FA, in Londonon Tuesday at 2pm.

“The meeting with Mr. Dyke is to formalize our relationship with The Football Association. Over the past months, we have had quite a number of our specialists, including referees and coaches, come to England to enhance their capacity at high-level programmes handled by high quality resource persons in that country.

“The meeting is also to appreciate the co-operation of The FA with our Federation in all these, and also seek their co-operation in further programmes, and also to deliberate on the possibility of our Super Eagles playing a friendly match with England’s Three Lions as soon as our different calendars can accommodate.

“Don’t forget that we are also hugely impressed with the football culture in England and we are working to see how we can replicate a similar thing in Nigeria.”