Nigeria football recorded a huge applause on Thursday after world football –governing body, FIFA, announced the appointment of the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick as a Member of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Organizing Committee.
In a letter dated 14th August 2015 and signed by FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, the world body wrote: “We are very pleased to inform you that you have been appointed as a member of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Please accept our sincere congratulations on this nomination.
“We wish you success and enjoyment in this role at FIFA and look forward to welcoming you soon in Zurich.”
It is the first time in history that a Nigerian will be serving in the FIFA U-20 World Cup Organizing Committee. The late astute administrator, Patrick Okpomo, was Member of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Organizing Committee.
Incidentally, as Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Pinnick named the world –class Football House he superintended in Asaba, capital of the State, after the revered Patrick Okpomo.
Reacting on Thursday, the NFF boss said the appointment has not come to him in his individual capacity, but in his position as head of Nigeria football.
“I have always maintained that our country is too big to be a silent member of the international football community. This appointment is to the applause of Nigeria football, not myself as a person.
“This will certainly encourage our efforts home and abroad to project Nigeria football positively. I insist: Nigeria has the quantity and quality of population to excel in several areas of endeavor globally.”
The 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals will be staged in Korea Republic.
Pinnick, who is also Member of the CAF Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations, was elected NFF President 11 months ago. He served for eight years as Chairman of the Delta State Football Association, and remains Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission.
At the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea earlier in the year, Pinnick was match commissioner for as many as six matches – a rare privilege for a newcomer to African football’s top table.
