Nigerian Sports Award: Iheanacho, Obaje, Egbuchulam in keen contest for Footballer of the year gong

. Siasia, Amapakabo, Feyisetan battle for Coach of the Year

Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho will battle Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) duo of Wikki Tourists striker Godwin Obaje and Enugu Rangers forward Chisom Egbuchulam for the Nigerian Sports Award Footballer of the Year.

This was revealed by the organisers of the award who announced the first set of nominees shortlisted for the 5thAnniversary Edition slated for December 2, 2016 at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

 

The panel announced the shortlists for three award categories; Coach of the Year, Footballer of the Year (Men) and Team of the Year.

According to the Chairman of the award panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo, the shortlisted nominees for each of the categories includes: Coach Samson Siasia, Coach Imama Amapakabo and Coach Are Feyisetan for the ‘Coach of the Year’ category; Kelechi Iheanacho, Godwin Obaje and Chisom Egbuchulam for Footballer of the Year (Men); Dream Team VI and Enugu Rangers for Team of the Year.

For the Footballer of the Year category; Iheanacho’s performances for both the country and his club earned him chance to make the list while the Wikki Tourists striker Obaje emerged top NPFL scorer with 18 goals as well as helping his club to clinch a CAF Confederation cup ticket after finishing third position in the league. Egbuchulam, a striker of Enugu Ranger, helped Flying Antelopes to win 2015/2016 NPFL title after 32 years.

For the ‘Coach of the Year’ category; Feyisetan was the coach of the Nigerian Powerlifting Team at the just concluded Paralympic games in Rio, Brazil, where they won nine medals; Amapakabo led Enugu Rangers to clinch the NPFL title while Coach Samson Siasia guided the Dream Team VI to win a bronze medal, Nigeria’s only medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic in the Men’s football games.

To earn the nomination for the Team of the Year, Enugu Rangers broke a 32-year long jinx by winning the 2016 NPFL Title while the Dream Team VI made the shortlist for winning the ‘golden’ bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, men’s football game.

“The shortlist is purely an outcome of the nominations received from members of the public through the various nomination platforms starting from Tuesday, July 26, 2016 when the nominations opened until midnight, Monday, October 24, 2016,” Isiguzo said.

Isiguzo also noted that the panel would subsequently release the other nomination shortlists as all is being prepared for the award ceremony.