Former Arsenal Vice-chairman, Dein, Backs Pinnicks Ambition to Succeed Maigari

By Duro Ikhazuagbe

A former Vice-chairman of Arsenal FC of England, David Dein, 71, has thrown his weight behind the ambition of Delta FA Chairman, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, to become the next president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Elective Congress of the NFF has been slated to hold on Tuesday, September 30 in Warri where the next executive committee members of the Nigerian federation will be elected to run the country’s football for the next four years.

Speaking on telephone with THISDAY yesterday, Dein, a former English FA vice-chairman who was also vice-chairman of Arsenal between 1983 and 2007, said that the election of Amaju as NFF president, “ will add value to the game in Nigeria because of his exposure and contacts in Europe and elsewhere.”

The former Gunners’ boss said that the youthful Delta FA chairman was very passionate about the game.
“I met Amaju for the first time 15 years ago. He has remained dedicated to the game and is very ambitious. These are attributes I believe are good for someone who wants to contribute to the benefit of Nigerian football,” observed Dein who has visited Nigeria a couple of times in the last four years as a resource person at seminars for the professional league.

He singled out Pinnick’s contribution to the human capital development of coaches and referees in Delta State as another area to also benefit stakeholders in the country.
“Amaju is widely travelled and has contacts in Europe to help develop Nigerian coaches and referees,” stressed Dein who remains passionate over Nwankwo Kanu’s stint at Highbury.

“I have fond memories of (Nwankwo) Kanu’s time at Arsenal. I still have warm relationship with him (Kanu). He is a very nice man.”
Asked if Dein was going to help influence a cordial relation between the London Gunners and the Nigerian federation if Pinnick gets elected to succeed Aminu Maigari as NFF president, he said such a decision was open to discussion.
“As a passionate Arsenal fan, I know Amaju has the capacity to drive whatever he believes will help Nigerian football to grow. If he wants to open a relation with Arsenal, such can be tabled at the appropriate time,” observed Dein.

Dein who currently spends much of his free time touring schools and prisons as a public speaker, was also the president of the G-14 group of European football clubs between October 2006 and May 2007 and has sat on various committees within FIFA and UEFA including UEFA's Club Competition Committee and Executive Committee.

He was behind the introduction of a bond scheme to finance the re-development of Highbury's North Bank and Clock End terraces into all-seater stands following call to Premier League clubs introduce all-seater stadiums after the Hillsborough disaster.