*Redeems contractual obligations to NFF on coaches’ wages
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Deputy Managing Director of Aiteo Group, Mr. Francis Peters, revealed on Monday night that the energy giant has redeemed its contractual obligation of providing support to the technical crew of all the Nigerian national teams for the whole of 2018 and beyond.
Speaking at the inaugural edition of the Aiteo/NFF Football Awards which held at Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, Mr Peters commended the Amaju Pinnick-led board for the good World Cup 2018 preparations laid out for Super Eagles.
“We are particularly delighted by NFF’s preparation for the tournament, as is evident in their World Cup plans recently publicised. For the Super Eagles, our wish is that the team matches our expectation.
“AITEO – as the team’s Official Sponsor – will certainly be in Russia to offer support and encouragement in our usual way.
“To demonstrate our commitment to achieving a successful World Cup outing, we have paid the sum of $600,000 and N320 million to cover our contractual obligation of providing support to the technical crew of all the teams for the whole of 2018, well beyond the World Cup,†observed the Aiteo deputy managing director.
While wishing all the five countries flying Africa’s flag at the World Cup next summer the very best, Mr Peters insisted that Aiteo is an organisation that is committed to the vision of every African, particularly the youth.
“Our business principle is framed around encouraging and empowering the teeming youth population in Nigeria and Africa to realise its potential whether in sport or any other chosen endeavour. This is the reason Aiteo, Africa’s leading energy solution company, is investing in the game and rewarding excellence.
“To us as Nigerians, football is a uniting factor. It is one of the major things that blurs social, economic and ethnic lines and brings us together to the same table to cheer our legends. This event is a celebration of that unity that electrifies us when we play.
Mr Peters described the past few months as very rewarding for Nigerian football.
“The past few months have been richly rewarding for Nigerian football. Qualification for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup, added to the home-based professionals finishing second place in the recently concluded African Nations Championship (CHAN) Competition in Morocco, have created a lot of excitement.
“These performances have fueled our expectations for the country at the forthcoming World Cup,†enthused the Aiteo deputy CEO.
He however insisted that the positive changes and accomplishments that have occurred in African Football, over the past 11 months, have not been accidental.
“We are truly impressed by the direction and vision of the CAF President, Mr. Ahmad Ahmad and his new team, which includes our own Amaju Pinnick, in their quest to elevate African football to a deserved higher level.
“We further convey our highest admiration to FIFA, the organisation at the apex of the organogram of the world game. Its leadership, under the direction of its President, Mr. Gianni Infantino, continues to astutely pilot the growth and development of the game in a manner that most positively impacts the widest reach of the population of the planet,†he further observed.
He also commended the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for his abiding love for sports, which has seen him supporting and encouraging several football, and other sporting projects.
“For us at Aiteo, His Excellency’s presence at the AITEO-CAF Awards in Accra early last month, along with his impressive entourage, conferred immeasurable dignity on the occasion.
