Why I Dumped Nigerian Matches For Arsenal-Chelsea Clash In London, NFF President Explains

Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigerian Football Federation

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Melvin Pinnick has defended his London trip where he watched Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 in the English Community Shield clash on Sunday at the Wembley Stadium.

The NFF boss was widely criticized for dumping the Dream Team VI and Super Falcons Olympic qualifying matches in Congo and Equatorial Guinea respectively, in addition to other top Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches over the weekend. But Mr. Pinnickpreferred to settle for the England trip to watch the game in company of the new Super Eagles coach, Sunday Ogorchukwu Oliseh.

In a swift reaction, Mr. Pinnick, the former Delta State Football Association chairman, took to his Twitter account to state his position regarding the controversial London trip. “Hello all, no doubt I am an Arsenal fan but I will never relegate my calling at NFF for Arsenal,” he said.

“When Arsenal was playing against Manchester some months ago, I was on the road to Ibadan to watch 3SC against Rangers,” he continued. “My vision about my mission in NFF is clear and by God’s Grace, we shall get there.

“I came into London for meetings with a consortium of would-be sponsors, some requested to see the Head Coach. Aside that, there are a lot of global politics going on and if Nigeria must be accorded her pride of place in global football politics, then we must participate at the highest level,” his tweets continued.

“I appeal for your understanding and prayers, nothing good comes easy.”

Source: Sahara Reporters