‘Pitch Awards to celebrate one decade with glitz, aplomb’

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun (right), with Super Eagles’ forward and King of the Pitch 2022 award winner Victor Osimhen (second right), AIG Aishatu Abubakar-Baju (second left) and Super Eagles’ head coach, Jose Peseiro, at last year’s Nigeria Pitch Awards’ ceremony in Abuja.

Organisers of Nigeria’s longest-running football awards brand, Nigeria Pitch Awards, said they have commenced preparations for the 10th edition of the awards, which debuted in 2013 in Calabar, Cross River State.

Speaking on the 2023 edition of the awards, which has honoured hundreds of footballers across 16 categories in the last decade, president of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, said the programme has been consistent as a platform for recognising and rewarding talent, industry and patriotism among footballers and other officials.

“The awards platform has created opportunities for footballers, football administrators, managers/coaches, referees, journalists and other critical stakeholders to get recognition and honour for their talent, hard work and commitment to the development of the beautiful game.

“Since the maiden edition in 2013, we have given out over 170 awards to deserving players and officials at award ceremonies held in Calabar, Kaduna, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Lagos and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.”

Philips enthused about the diligence and sincerity that have imbued the Pitch Awards with its good name over the past 10 years: “We have laid down a voting system founded on our core principles of integrity, transparency and honesty. Despite the dearth of sponsors, we have continued to weather the storm in order to sustain our commitment to the ideals and principles behind the awards.”

He said that