NFF to partner the English FA

Following the visit of the president
of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick to London to see the
Chairman of the English FA, Greg Dyke on Tuesday, the NFF boss has revealed
that the football house is planning on exploring the opportunity that the visit
has provided to enter into partnership with the Football Association of England
with a view to developing the fortunes of Nigerian football both domestically
and internationally. The NFF is looking at ways to use the expertise of the
oldest football association in the world for the growth of Nigerian football.

Amaju Pinnick spoke to the NFF
official website to reveal the plans of the football house to partner the English FA. He said thus:

“Greg Dyke was visibly
interested in the goings-on in Nigeria.
He was asking lots of questions and seemed satisfied with our answers,
especially regarding the direction we are taking Nigerian football,”

“I made it very clear to him
that we look up to England,
not with envy but with awe at their organizational ability and we want to learn
from them. He further added:

“I have requested that the FA
should consider formalizing our relationship through a Memorandum of
Understanding, and have detailed our Special Envoy to explore ways of getting
that formal document in place, subject to the FA’s approval; capturing areas
through which we will benefit from their expertise, and present it to them, so
that we can have a formal signing soon.”

The Nigeria Football Federation have
already started benefiting from a previous partnership with the English FA
since Amaju Pinnick assumed the presidency of the football house. Several
Nigerian referees have benefited from been trained by the English FA, a
development that has seen an increase in Nigerian referees that have recently officiated
in football tournament within the continent.

The NFF president, spoke of what Nigeria has
benefited from their English counterpart since he assumed office in September.

“From the group that has
visited England
on capacity building, our referees have been invited to officiate in the
African U-17 Championship, the African Youth Championship and the African Beach
Soccer Championships.

“You can also see that in our
League, the integrity of our referees have improved and you can see that teams
are going away to win matches in our Premier League with no fuss,”

The new and unfolding development is
expected to see more Nigerian football officials travel to London for further capacity building and
training in the coming months.

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