Sports philanthropist, Momoh throws weight behind Pinnick’s CAF seat bid

Says it will pay Nigeria to have a voice in football politics
A sports philanthropist and chairman of FROT Group, Frank Momoh, has thrown his weight behind the move by the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, to secure a seat in the CAF Executive Committee.

In 2013, former NFF President, Aminu Maigari lost the West Africa Zone B seat to Anjorin Moucharafou of Benin Republic during the CAF polls held in Morocco.

This time, Pinnick will be contesting the same position against incumbent, Anjorin Moucharafou. The CAF Executive committee polls will hold in March 2017.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Momoh, a promoter of grassroots football, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and athletics, said a victory for Pinnick in the CAF polls would add great value to Nigerian football.

“Pinnick is one of the next generation administrators, and his emergence as NFF president two years ago has really brought great innovations and quality leadership to our football. He has the zeal and passion for the game, and I want Nigerians to rally round him in his bid to secure a seat in CAF. His membership will take African football to a greater level,” he said.

In the contest in 2013, the then NFF boss, Maigari lost it to Anjorin by 35 votes to 19 in the run-off, after they both failed to get the stipulated 50 per cent of total votes cast in the first ballot. Maigari got 17 votes in the first election, while Anjorin garnered 27. Many football-loving Nigerians were of the opinion then that Maigari did not get enough support from home before he embarked on the race.

Momoh said yesterday that Nigerians must be united this time for Pinnick to scale through in the coming election to avoid a repeat of the 2013 experience.

“I know that Pinnick will face a Herculean task because his opponent (Moucharafou) is vastly experienced, but Pinnick will be coming with both experience and creativity. With undiluted support from Nigerians, especially football stakeholders, he will triumph.

“I want Nigerians to know that no one is perfect in life, so they should forget some of the setbacks of our national teams and look at the many significant changes Pinnick has brought to our football in the last two years. He has so much to give, but he needs the support of everyone to build the house,” Momoh stated.