Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Melvin Pinnick has hinted that the football governing body will provide support for all the leagues next season.
The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Nigeria Women Football League(NWFL) and Nationwide leagues were affected by the COVID-19.
NFF alongside stakeholders in the various leagues unanimously agreed to cancel the 2019-2020 season due to the challenges of the COVID-19.
Amaju during a live chat on NFF official Instagram handle revealed that the NFF is still expecting the COVID-19 relief fund from FIFA and CAF.
Watch the Interview video here
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A total sum of$1million from world football-governing body, FIFA, and another $500,000 from the African confederation, CAF is what the NFF is expecting.
Pinnick said ,“We would take from these various monies and add also from monies that we are expecting from our corporate partners, and see what we can give to each of the Clubs in these four cadres.
“This financial support is for them to get their campaigns off the ground for the new season that we have set for September/October, depending on what signals we get from the Federal Government, through the Presidential Task Force on the COVID-19 and other relevant organs.
“We are also going to support the league organizing bodies financially.”
Pinnick revealed also that the NFF jas received a letter from CAF informing them about the schedule for the U-17 and U-20 FIFA Women World Cup.
“CAF has written to inform us that the qualifiers for the U17 and U20 FIFA Women World Cups will hold in September and October.
“We are determined to prepare our girls well to qualify for both championships. At the same time, we are working assiduously to see that the Super Eagles and Super Falcons get quality opponents for friendly matches within the next few months.
“For the Super Eagles, we have an African team and a South American team on the cards.
He also explained the plans of the NFF for the national teams.
“First and foremost, we have to get the Super Falcons a Head Coach of the highest quality possible.
“We are working on that, as our consultants are already on it, and also working on the appointment of coaches for some other National Teams.
“On our part, we have ring fenced a sum of money to pay the Head Coach of the Super Falcons for a number of years to come, so that challenge is taken care of.”
The NFF boss also hinted that NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship, which was already at the zonal stage before the disruption occasioned by COVID-19, would have to start all over again.
“We have no choice. It is a programme so close to our hearts, knowing that it serves the important purpose of providing true youngsters for the National Teams.
“The pandemic has disrupted and certainly, some of the players would no longer be of the age that they were before the disruption. So, we have to start all over again.”
He further urged a media and other stakeholders not to give ear to any negative criticism about NFF.
“I keep saying that you may not like Amaju Pinnick, but the bigger picture is Nigerian Football and its future.
“Negative stories about the game have damaging impact on the brand and even when Pinnick leaves, the problem of damaged brand will still be there.
“Those of us at the helm of the NFF presently are there because we have the passion to develop the game, do things differently and take the Nigeria game to new heights.
“We came into office and brought gilt –edged corporations like Price Water House Coopers and Financial Derivatives Company on board because we are totally committed to transparency and accountability.
“There are legitimate claims that we forgo simply because we did not come into the Federation for the money.
“I appeal to everyone to consider the interests of Nigeria football and continue to shun the purveyors of half-truths and outright fiction.”