Super Eagles and Leicester City FC midfield sensation, Wilfred Ndidi has emerged the King of the Pitch for the year 2019 at the 7th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
The Awards which is to honour Nigerian players also saw Asisat Oshoala emerged the Queen of the Pitch also.
Making the announcement on Tuesday 22 December 2020 at the Ibis Hotel Ikeja, organizers noted that the 7th Award Ceremony initially scheduled to hold in March 2020 was put off in line with the guidelines of the COVID-19 Protocol as outlined by the Presidential Task Force set up by the Federal Government.
Mr Demola Olajire, NFF Communications Director reiterated the Federation’s support for the awards stressing that the organizers have been resilient and committed to holding the event year after year.
Ndidi beat off competition from Joe Aribo of Rangers FC and Oghenekaro Etebo of Stoke City to retain the Midfielder of the Year Award.
Daniel Akpeyi impressive performance for Kaizer Chiefs in the DSTV Premiership saw his scooped the Goalkeeper of the Year .
William Troost-Ekong emerged as Defender of the Year
In the Striker of the Year Category, Super Eagles and Napoli FC striker, Victor Osimhen starved off competition from Odion Ighalo of Manchester United and Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal FC.
Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, NFF First Vice President won the Sam Okwaraji Award for Commitment to Nigeria Football;
Gernot Rohr emerged 2019 Coach of the Year;
Enyimba International emerged Team of the Year and AITEO Group carted home the coveted Corporate Sponsor of Football Award for 2019.
The maiden Sportsmanship Award was presented to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu for his use of sports in the fight against crime and his sportsman’s attributes in the discharge of his duties as Nigeria’s Police Chief.
Delta State Governor, His Excellency Ifeanyi Okowa won the Football Friendly Governor for the second year while Lagos State emerged winner of the State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme.
In the media category, Johnny Edwards of The Punch won the Football Journalist of the Year – Print category while Olawale Adigun of Top Radio FM emerged winner of the Radio category.
In the TV and Online categories, Channels TV Sports Editor Austin Okon-Akpan and Goal.com Samuel Ahmadu won respectively.
Voting on the platform of the Nigeria Pitch Awards is done by over 100 sports editors and journalists across the 36 states of the country.
Votes cast are collated and audited by a professional accounting body.
Highlights include the appearance of two top Nollywood celebrities Chioma Omeruwa popularly known as Chigul and Segun Arinze.
Nigeria Pitch Awards Winners
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Daniel Akpeyi Kaizer Chiefs FC
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
William Troost Ekong Watford FC
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City F.C
STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
Asisat Oshoala FC Barcelona Femení
KING OF THE PITCH
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City F.C
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Enyimba International FC
COACH OF THE YEAR
Gernot Rohr Super Eagles
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi Ist Vice President, NFF
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Lagos State
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa Delta State
CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD
AITEO Group
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT
Johnny Edward Punch Newspapers
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV
Austin Okon-Apkan Channels TV
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO
Olawale Adigun Top Radio 90.9 FM
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE
Samuel Ahmadu goal.com