By Victor Kanayo
Barely two weeks after elections that ushered in new Executive Board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) precisely on September 30, 2022, the immediate past President,Amaju Pinnick has asked for forgiveness among various football stakeholders.
Pinnick who spoke on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital while formally over to the new NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, urged the management and staff of the country’s football house to accord the current leadership necessary support.
While speaking with nostalgia, Pinnick, a FIFA Council and CAF Executive Committee member said he remained part of the system and would still be available to offer advice and suggestions whenever such is sought.
He said, “I thank you for your loyalty and support in the past eight years, and the encouragement and support of the Board that I worked with. It was an awesome experience all through and I give God the glory. Football is the winner. I ask for the forgiveness of all those that I might have offended one way or the other, and I crave your support for the new team.
“The General Secretary is a formidable individual, a great administrator and a good man at heart. He is a man capable of stabilising the new Board. I have no doubt that alongside other members of Management and Staff, they will propel Nigeria Football to new heights.
“As a FIFA Council Member, I am technically in charge of 22 countries including Nigeria. I will always do my best to protect and project the interests of Nigeria at all times. My administration gave its all and raised funds for the programs of the NFF and the National Teams, and built discipline within the National Teams. However, I see the new administration surpassing whatever we achieved. The new President is a strategist who is humble, dynamic and innovative.”
In response, NFF President Gusau said the warm relationship between the old and the new guards was a reflection of the wonderful relationship that was forged among the members of the last board within eight years.
Heritage Times HT reports that Gusau led the NFF board on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Minister of Youth and Sports development Sunday Dare.
During the visit, the Minister charged them to take football development in Nigeria to enviable heights.
