Category: Ade Ojeikere

There is muted celebration in Abuja. Reason: The Director of Sports Dr. Patrick Ekeji has resigned. There will be peace in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), many have whispered into my ears.

A fighter, Ekeji took swift decisions, although many of such decisions would have been better applied if he had reflected on them.

One thing Ekeji had going for him was the ability to consult widely. But he perished the gains of such exercises by refusing to accept discerning views from those he hitherto sought ideas from. They became pariahs. And the lickspittles around him fed him with lies that created gaps between him and his former allies.

Ekeji’s failure to attain the heights where he would have celebrated today was because he fought other people’s battles. This distraction ensured that his task of instituting an enduring template for sports became a mirage. He was very firm. He was not scared to ruffle feathers. He left the NSC fulfilled, despite the fact that Nigeria finished without a medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games, not for the first time.

It is to Ekeji’s credit that our athletes enjoyed one of the best welfare packages at the 2003 All Africa Games which Nigeria hosted and won. But he was sent to the Federal Ministry of Planning and Statistics after the Games.

Team Nigeria project ensured that sports federations had good vehicles for their athletes. Some of the vehicles are rickety now; others are being used by staff of the federations and the NSC to take guests to parties, churches and funerals while athletes trek home after training.

Many who didn’t interact closely with Ekeji, like Amos Adamu, see him as the problem with our sport. They felt that Ekeji didn’t know the solutions to all the problems.

Ekeji left good things behind that we must build on. But it is the proper constitution of the sports federations that would inject the new approach for the industry here.

We must ensure that those federations that didn’t organise credible competitions in the last terms are shown the way out. Those federations with dictator chairmen who were cogs should be sacked. The number of members should be reduced to seven; one each from the six-geo-political zones. There should be task-driven chairmen, not estacode seekers.

Frankly speaking, all the sports federations are too unwieldy. One was shocked during the registration for the 2012 London Olympic Games seeing more board members being accredited than the athletes. We must stop those chairmen and members who use these platforms to contest elections into continental and international bodies, albeit to entrench themselves in such federations.

Little wonder we have instances where federation members attend competitions where their athletes don’t. You ask: of what use is such an exercise, if the primary targets- the athletes – don’t benefit from their positions in these sporting bodies? Officials don’t win laurels; athletes do.

I would love to recall what happened during the Presidential Sports Retreat earlier this year in Abuja. Former Super Eagles Chief Coach Adegboye Onigbinde, Soccerstar Editor Kunle Solaja and I were placed in one of the study groups. We met, like others, and agreed on points that would change the particular sport. In fact, what we agreed was read to us for amendments, which we did.

Surprisingly, when our study group addressed the congregation, he reeled out what was not said during the session. And that was the general complaint from other groups – The chairmen’s interests taking the centre stage against wise counsel.

This is the major problem with sports development. We have chairmen who run the federations like cults. They subordinate members, create camps and effectively ruin the place by running the federations from their homes and offices.

Indeed, in re-assembling the federations, any person who has spent two terms of four years should leave the place for others to make their contributions. Those who are in continental and international federations shouldn’t be allowed into the federations, if such a body has not organised enough tournaments to keep their athletes in good shape in the last regime.

Ekeji introduced the concessioning of sports federations under the PPP arrangement. We need to look at what they achieved. We also need to re-jig the workings of such concessioned sports federations to make them more viable. We must change the modalities under which the last arrangement was made. years should leave the place for others to make their contributions. Those who are in continental and international federations shouldn’t be allowed into the federations, if such a body has not organised enough tournaments to keep their athletes in good shape in the last regime.

Ekeji introduced the concessioning of sports federations under the PPP arrangement. We need to look at what they achieved. We also need to re-jig the workings of such concessioned sports federations to make them more viable. We must change the modalities under which the last arrangement was made. Such flawed templates wouldn’t change the face of the industry.

Concession should be done with corporate firms who have a history of funding sports, not friends of the undertakers of such initiatives.

This writer is bemused by the talk of concessioning when there isn’t a sports calendar. Lovers of sports know when the next competitions of their favourite games will hold. This foresight gives them the opportunity to save cash to watch the particular tournament that interests them. By the same token, firms can interface with our sporting events when they know that the dates are sacrosanct.

Adept knowledge of the game should form the fulcrum on which members are cleared to contest elections into the federations. The idea of having friends of top government functionaries in sports bodies is chiefly responsible for the dearth of competitions. These lackeys of men in high places get disillusioned when it dawns on them that what they have is not a money-spinner. To these political jobbers masquerading as sports federation members, traveling with Nigerian contingents is only an opportunity to shop and watch films in their hotel rooms; not a time to watch the events for which they claimed to have travelled.

Federations populated by members who are passionate about their sport will generate ideas to ensure that competitions are held regularly.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) must ensure that timelines are given to the federations. These timelines should be accessed periodically. Defaulting federations should be eased out. But such drastic actions must form part of the rulebook that each federation member must sign after the elections; otherwise, they will scuttle the process through endless litigations.

Members of the federations must have the clout to attract sponsors. They must know how to market their sport to attract cash. If there are no competitions, there won’t be the need to repair facilities. Even the good ones would gradually corrode, if not used. Competitions will spur the sponsors to rehabilitate venues as the competitions transcend from the domestic scene to the international platform.

The sports minister should ensure that those scheming to be members of federations have verifiable means of livelihood. The toga of being businessmen and women is unacceptable. They become leaches to the federations when they eventually became members. Some of them used the platform to secure entry visas for their kids, wives and relations.

Central to good performance in sports is the culture of having qualified coaches. This idea of having unqualified coaches to train our athletes accounted for 80% of our failures. For instance, in table tennis, Nigeria doesn’t need to look too far to get a qualified Nigerian for the job. Congo qualified for the ping pong event at the 2012 London Olympic Games through the technical savvy of a former Nigerian star, Kasali Lasisi.

The Congolese knew the mileage they would get if their nationals sat on the bench, dishing out instructions to their athletes and they dropped Lasisi. Lasisi’s savvy qualified him to lead the continent’s crew for a continental event. What else do we need from Lasisi before naming him as our table tennis coach? Of course, those in the federation have their reservations because they cannot dictate to him. Is that not the type of coach we need?

Lasisi has seen it all in table tennis. He played the game to the zenith, discovered and trained players. His case is one of several that we can talk about. But it must be said that these Nigerians who are celebrated in their sport should take charge as we strive to reinvent our sport. The era of recycling failed coaches and administrators in our sport, I dare say, is over.

Things have fallen apart in the Super Eagles. Law has broken down. Paucity of cash has compelled the NFF to cut players’ bonuses, prune the team’s backroom staff and withdraw the country’s home-based Eagles from the 2014 version of the Africa Cup of Nations meant for local groomed lads.

Many had looked forward to the two-legged ties between Nigeria and Cote d’ Ivoire, with many memories of the historic moments in late January, when the tottering Super Eagles shocked the star-studded Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 in a quarter-finals game.

Coach Stephen Keshi defied his employer’s request to appear before the body’s technical committee on Tuesday to defend his 2014 World Cup programme and discuss the team’s technical report for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations held in South Africa.

But the biggest hurdle facing the Eagles is Keshi’s refusal to participate in a fence-mending meeting with his employers, occasioned by the feuding in the team, especially the ones involving the players and the coach.

Keshi sought permission to go on holidays in California, United States, from his employers but was told in writing to wait until he had discussed his 2014 World Cup plans.

The NFF men also felt that it was expedient that the coach submitted a technical report of how Nigeria excelled at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations to guide the federation in future competitions.

Indeed, part of the fallout of Nigeria’s feat in South Africa was the angst from Emmanuel Emenike – and rightly so – that nobody, including the coach and the federation, bothered to find the state of his niggling knee injury, which he sustained while playing for the country.

Emenike’s outbursts culminated in Joseph Yobo’s stinker that Keshi didn’t deem it necessary to inform him as the team’s captain that he won’t be invited for the March 29 World Cup qualifier in Calabar.

In fact Yobo chose the media to condemn Keshi’s action. Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi was worried. He talked with Yobo on telephone to stop the bickering.

The minister immediately directed the NFF to wade into the matter, among other issues, so that it doesn’t jeopardise the country’s quest for the Brazil 2014 World Cup ticket.

Keshi responded to his employer’s request for his 2014 World Cup programme by releasing a 30-man squad for the exercise in which the team would play over four games June.

The coach, however, left the country without permission, shunning all entreaties from friends that he should attend the Tuesday session with his employers.

Keshi informed his friends that he had booked his flight and would love to see his family in California. Couldn’t Keshi have rescheduled his trip? After all, it is NFF that would provide the cash for the re-issuance. Or is it NFF’s duty to refund the money spent on the trip when he returns?

What does Keshi’s contract say on vacation?. This writer was informed by NFF eggheads that Keshi is entitled to 14 days annual leave. But he must notify the federation with a letter. He can only proceed on such a vacation when he gets the body’s approval. Did Keshi get his employer’s permission? We are told that he didn’t. Many have asked why he left the country without permission. Could it be that he now has new bosses?

Yet, the more fundamental issues are: Was it wrong for NFF to have invited Keshi to defend his 2014 World Cup programme? Is it not about time Keshi submitted the technical report of a competition which ended on February 10 – 62 days after AFCON held? Is it an offence for the NFF to intervene in matters concerning the Eagles, especially as it affects the coach and the players? Or was intervene in matters concerning the Eagles, especially as it affects the coach and the players? Or was Keshi expecting the NFF to watch the players use foul language on their boss in the media?

Clearly, Keshi is superior to the NFF – if he can brazenly ignore their directive. Even though they are his employers, he is not obliged to do their mandate, if it conflicts with his personal plans. Put simply, Keshi is bigger than Nigeria, since NFF is the face of the country in the global football space. What a pity!

What we have on our hands is a man who wants power without control. Keshi wants to sit in judgment over his players without qualms, yet does not want to subject himself to any form of supervision.

This oddity can only happen in Nigeria because we treat serious issues with levity. When we even decide to take any action, we allow sentiments to rule our sense of judgment. We opt for political solutions to crises and everyone is a winner, instead of wielding the stick against offenders.

Would we sweep under the carpet this disobedient act on the altar of not wanting to rock the boat like we did with the resignation saga in South Africa? Can’t we see that we are the laughing stock?

If this were done elsewhere, the coach would have been fired. Or is a superior body granting the coach his requests and making the NFF look like Lilliputians?

How does Keshi expect the players to respect him when he disregards his employers? Respect begets respect. He needs to know that the players are watching. Who can stop this sickening trend?

Technical director job

Nigerian coaches never cease to amaze me. They swallow their pride and munch their vomit with relish. In doing so, they say that their people pleaded with them to go for the job as patriots.

I’ve been pinching myself to find out if any of the five coaches who attended the technical director’s job session would deny the story.

Instead, we are being told that Shauibu Amodu has nicked the job with Kashimawo Laloko and James Peters playing other key roles in the technical department.

These three coaches (Amodu, Laloko and Peters) are eminently qualified for the job. But it is the acrimonious manner in which they left previous jobs with the NFF that has set me thinking. Would they have any moral right to complain about anything when it isn’t forthcoming?

I hope they are ready to weather through the body’s shortcomings and face the job of getting the country a template that will see our national teams play in a distinct Nigeria way, like we see with the Dutch, the Brazilians, the Germans, the Spaniards, the English etc.

Laloko is not a new man with grassroots soccer development. He knows his onions. But what happens to his Soccer Academy? Will he leave the kids with his lieutenants? We will wait and see.

For Amodu, his running battles with our sports administrators are legendary. An achiever, Amodu, like Laloko, dislikes being dictated to. Again, what will become of the youth soccer academy, which he started in Edo State?

Perhaps, both men have seen that they need to be at the NFF to integrate their programmes into the national sphere. One hopes that they can use this platform to unify all the soccer academies in the country.

They should insist on the true ages of the talents discovered at the grassroots. We need to see age-grade competitions as developmental programmes and not one on which we must win.

Age grade tournaments should be the platform to expose talents discovered at the grassroots. Each time Nigeria fields over-aged men as school boys they inadvertently release these kids into the world of crime.

Clap for Yobo, Mikel, Moses

Nigerians have something to look out for in the semi-finals of the 2012/2013 Europa Cup competition.

We may also watch Joseph Yobo, John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses play against each other, if Chelsea overcomes Basel and Fenerbache beats Benfica in the tow semi-final matches.

Moses and Mikel play for Chelsea while Yobo plays for Fenerbache. It is good to know that our stars are playing in the big competitions in Europe. We hope that they can play for the Eagles with the same spirit and commitment they exhibit for their clubs.

One only hopes that Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi attends both semi-final matches which would be played on different dates. He would have four opportunities to watch at least two of his key players. He could also do a re-think, when he watches Yobo, especially now that he is fully fit.

A Chelsea versus Fenerbache final is my take although this prediction could go awry. As a consolation, I want one of the teams where Nigerians play for to qualify for the finals and lift the trophy.

Samson Siasia is in the news again. This time he is not talking about dragging his employers to court or joining issues with his bosses over unpaid entitlements. Rather, Siaone is being tempted with another coaching job by people who threw him into the unemployment market for failing to take Nigeria to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

The posers, for Siasia, following this unenviable task of drinking from a seeming poisoned chalice should be: Can I trust these people again, given my previous experience? Should I swallow my vomit and accept the job on the altar of being patriotic?

Shouldn’t I politely reject the offer and concentrate on my soccer academy? Would anyone listen to me, if I complain about my employer’s shortcomings again? Are these people not discreetly setting me up for a showdown with Stephen Keshi, in the event that the Dream Team VI wins the gold medal at the Brazil 2016 Olympic Games? Are there still talents at the grassroots to assemble a winning side?

What did I forget in Nigeria’s soccer teams that I want to pick up? Can’t I look elsewhere for my coaching future? Have I complained to anyone that I desperately need a job?

Siasia’s mind, no doubt, is full of these mind-boggling posers. Yet he must understand that most of his problems with his employers arose from youthful exuberance. He also didn’t have the capacity to manage the success associated with coaching the country’s U-20 and U-23 sides.

He needs to improve on his temperament. He needs to see the essence of being a coach, like a teacher, who must learn to tolerate his students’ (players’) egos and idiosyncrasies. He should also imbibe the culture of respecting constituted authorities in matters of disputes.

Siasia needs to look at his previous contract papers and get a knowledgeable lawyer to draft a fresh document that will adequately protect his rights against some of the pitfalls in the previous document. The new contract must spell out in clear terms the dos and don’ts. This fresh deal should have clauses which should checkmate breaches by either party. And such breaches must be binding on the offending party. This thuggish style of holding employers hostage whenever there is a breach of any contract puts a lie to actual contents of such documents.

Our coaches resort to this arm-twisting method because they lobby to get such deals and do not pay attention to the details meant to protect their rights.

Most times, our coaches pick up jobs to shake off years of joblessness. They get desperate and sign any document for as long as it ensures that they are not idle- no matter the dubious circumstances surrounding the offer.

Luckily, Siasia cannot be said to be unemployed. He has been busy with his soccer academy, fishing out talents from the grassroots. So, he comes into this new association with the NFF armed with a “plan B.” He should insist on making the contents of his contract public, should there be a breach.

The oath of confidentiality that Nigerian coaches seal with their employers is laughable because the public gets to know what they earn, when entitlements are not paid. Who doesn’t know that the Eagles chief coach earns N5m monthly? Who doesn’t know the story of how the NFF president raised the coach’s wages from N3 million monthly to N5 million and all the brouhaha that went with the decision by his board members?

If this new move is being initiated by the NFF, which I doubt, then Siasia must insist on being paid upfront like we have seen with our former European coaches. Since 2016 is still quite a distance, Siasia can demand that all his entitlements are handed to him before he resumes work or no deal.

Any business deal not witnessed by a legal expert with the seal of the court is a really big joke – I challenge any Nigerian coach, past or present, – to come forward with his contract. What they call contracts are loose sheets, which are at variance with what their employers have. This is why they resort to clandestine tactics meant to whip up sentiments from the public.

As Siasia ponders over this new romance- if it is true- he must avoid the pitfalls of the past. It won’t be a bad idea if he accepts the job. It would underscore the need for him to be a specialist in grooming age-grade players for Nigeria.

Like Ekigho, like Mba

Not many people will remember Ehiosun Ekigho. He emerged from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme to hit the limelight as a Warri Wolves player. He scored goals with aplomb and Siasia used him effectively in our matches.

Having gained national prominence, he was pounced on by our shylock scouts. He was locked in controversies such that not many people know how such a talented young man found himself playing for an obscure club in Ukraine. Ekigho is lost. Keshi may not even know that such a talent showed much promise 13 months ago. He used his left foot superbly. Ekigho reminded me of Prince Afejukwu (aka Shuwa) of the defunct Bendel Insurance. I ask; where is Prince Afejukwu? I last saw him in Benin City. Take a bow sir.

This script is about playing itself out again with Sunday Mba. If proper steps are not taken to fix Mba’s future according to the rule book, he would toe Ekigho’s path and it would be rather sad.

Perhaps, the Mba saga should agitate the minds of NFF and NPFL eggheads to set the template where players’ inter and intra transfers are regimentally documented.

An independent body should be charged with processing, confirming and releasing players for inter or intra club transfers. That way, it would be easier to locate our budding talents and also monitor their progress anywhere they are.

It is instructive to state here too that clubs in other climes use cash from inter and intra club transfers to generate revenues for themselves. The supervisory bodies also get percentage of the cash involved as another means of generating revenue.

Clubs globally are judged by what they earn from transfers, among other sources of revenue.

NFF and NPFL must ensure that all sharp practices by players are detected and perpetrators punished. This idea of players relocating to new clubs without proper documentation must stop.

What Mba did by parking his car in Enugu Rangers’ camp before going for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations is worse than what Osaze Odemwingie did, when he drove his car to London and remained at the gate of Queens Park Rangers’ camp on deadline day of the January 2012/2013 transfer window.

Of course, QPR’s management and indeed the club’s security operatives knew the implication of allowing Odemwingie into the premises. It is, therefore, sickening to hear Mba trying to justify why he parked his car in Rangers’ premises. In Nigeria, anything goes. This must stop.

NSC Bill

I thought I was dreaming when I saw the report in my mail box on Monday evening. Reading through the report, especially the calibre of people who contributed to the debate, I was excited.

For once, something good is in the offing for Nigeria’s sports. As we await the National Sports Commission (NSC) Bill, kudos for the Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi for having the guts to present this bill to the National Assembly without playing politics like those before him.

The NSC Bill, from what I gathered, will professionalise the commission and ensure that only technocrats are in charge. Good.

I do not know if the NSC Bill will still have NFF under its control, like Decree 101. I would wish that NFF is removed from the NSC’s apron string so that technocrats can concentrate on making sports what it is elsewhere- a business venture. There is hardly any sport that is not a money spinner- cricket, tennis, boxing, gymnastics, cycling etc. Why not in Nigeria?

That giant leap would be made the day the NSC Bill is passed into law and the right people employed to promote the industry from its rustic past. Well done, Bolaji Abdullahi and indeed the lawmakers.

I dey laugh o!

Those celebrating the emergence of new stars in the Eagles should read this. A certain player, said to be in one of the Francophone countries is 21 years, according to his international passport.

He is married with two children between ages 10 and seven. I didn’t say kids. What will our players not do to gain relevance? Please, don’t ask me if the player is still in the Eagles.

Who invited Efe Ambrose?

Those rooting for 100 per cent autonomy for our national team coaches must ask the Super Eagles chief coach, who invited Efe Ambrose for the Kenya tie in Calabar?

Ambrose is banned from the game because of accumulation of yellow cards? So, why didn’t the coaches detect this flaw?

We are just lucky that an alert NFF staff spotted the mistake. Otherwise, we would have lost the game, if the Kenyans protested and other stiffer penalties would have followed.

The point being here is that no one is an island. Our coaches must be magnanimous to subject their lists to the technical committee for scrutiny. The mistake would have been spotted during the vetting session.

Again, it shows the quality of our coaching crew. Maybe, the choice of players is a one-man show. How was it possible that no coach remembered that Ambrose was ineligible?

Football is a cruel game. It respects no one. It can be a leveler, especially for the side that approaches its game with the pride of the peacock. Indeed, it is such an unpredictable game that has humbled many a pundit.

Soccer is the game for determined sides driven by the desire to upset the old order, hence its shocking results. Minnows thrive on re-writing the books. They are the ones who throw up new stars, making the game what it is- an intriguing enterprise.

For the Super Eagles, only unrepentant supporters expected them to be African champions. Some of them may not admit it, but with the first two games, a few would have had their doubts; they kept fate in the elements of surprise associated with the Eagles whenever they are written off.

Today, Eagles are Africa’s champions. The team others must beat. Every game will be like the finals, yet the beauty of the new team is that the coaches say that they are rebuilding. But can we believe them, given previous experiences? Many will nod in the affirmative. They are likely going to look at the 24-man home-based squad and perhaps the exclusion of Ejike Ezoenye, the little Enugu Rangers left winger who is on trial in France. But would that be a reason for dropping him? Or is it the coaches’ style of telling him to wait for his turn?

We have passed this road before. Building new teams and destroying them because of seeming fixations with, the coaches saying that they would not change a winning side.

True, no coach changes a winning side. But, in this winning team were flaws that need to be corrected to achieve the balanced side that will rule the world in Brazil in 2014; talking about the Eagles of our dream.

Ezoenye’s exclusion was deserved. He did well in the early stages but melted away like ice cream in the sun in subsequent games. One would have thought that the other home-grown players who didn’t wear a shirt ought to have been excluded. The hindsight is that their experience would be handy now that the coaches are faced with the task of coupling a local league side that would confront Cote d’Ivoire in a two-legged qualifier, with Nigeria playing at home first.

What the coaches must guide against is to stop managing injury-hit players. Coaches have a right to decide who plays, stays or drops from the squad, but they must understand that keeping half-fit players in the team robs better and fitter players of a place to contribute to the team’s fortunes. Besides, it robs Nigeria of the chance to introduce new players to the potential clubs seeking their services.

This writer feels strongly that the inclusion of Gabriel Rueben and Ekwueke was a big disservice to the team no matter how talented they are when fit. It will be a travesty if Rueben and Ekwueke remain in the squad without playing.

Goalkeepers Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim sat through the Eagles’ matches at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. But they were our best, even though Ejide had a slight knock in the friendly against Cape Verde.

In South Africa, the right back was one of the team’s weak positions, until Ambrose Efe fitted in perfectly. Sadly, Ambrose’s club form with Celtic in Scotland has been awful, although many have argued that his manager ought to have left him out of the squad following the hectic Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Nigeria. One only hopes that the coaches can comb the country for younger boys from the age grade teams, given what Kenneth Omeruo did when he was drafted to play in the central defence in place of recuperating Joseph Yobo. Omeruo was drafted in from the Flying Eagles to plug the weak spots in the team. Omeruo has been exposed and dropped from the Flying Eagles to give way for another talent. That is the way forward, NFF. Thumbs up for the NFF chiefs who insisted that Omeruo, Onazi and Sunday Mba must be included after the Eagles were tottering in the first two matches. Did these three gladiators not justify their inclusion? Why all the fuzz about NFF’s interference in the team’s selection? Yes, Mikel Obi justified his position. So did Vincent Enyeama, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike and Oboabona, not forgetting Echeijile and Brown Ideye.

Looking at the team’s left back position, Echiejile did well. His composure during difficult times was infectious. His surge upfront to strengthen the attack gave the Eagles added impetus, little wonder he scored the opening goal in Nigeria’s 4-1whiplash of Mali.

Echiejile, like Ambrose, needs good substitutes. I feel strongly that the search should first be to draft the Flying Eagles stars who man those positions into the Eagles. That is how it is done in other climes. But, in the short term, the coaches should ask the domestic league coaches to give them the league’s best three. Juwon Oshinawa certainly isn’t the right choice for the left back position, I dare say.

Godfrey Oboabona and Omeruo have made the fight for the cenral defence a titanic one. They shone like a million stars at the Africa Cup of Nations, even though the coaches drafted in Joseph Yobo for tactical reasons at critical moments in the semi-final and final games. Yobo did well, even if the minutes that he played were less than 12 in each game.

What the coaches must not do is to dispense with Yobo on the altar of the Turkey-based star’s form at the Cup of Nations. It was obvious to everyone that he had issues with his knee and was indeed recuperating. We must learn how to stand by our heroes and not hound them out of the squad. This idea of using and dumping our stars should stop. Stephen Keshi found himself in Yobo’s situation and he knew how Clemens Westerhof handled his matter until his voluntary retirement.

This writer must commend Keshi for dropping his characteristic two-man midfield for the quartet of Mikel Obi, Onazi, Mba and Victor Moses, even though he drifted round in the course of the matches- the hallmark of a creative player. It is instructive to note that Joel Obi would give the quartet the fight of their lives when he returns to the team. Don’t ask me where Rueben will play in this midfield arrangement. Or would anyone waste time pleading for the inclusion of those who fumbled in that position at the Africa Cup of Nations? This writer would rather the coaches give other untested Nigerians a chance to see if they would displace the Nations Cup quartet.

It is cheery news that Everton Victor Anichebe is playing again. He comes and goes with injuries. Anichebe’s recurring injuries have to do with his rugged style. He certainly is a better option for Ike Uche who was unimpressive in South Africa.

One was bowled over by Keshi’s comments that he could still invite Shola Ameobi. An Eagles’ squad with Ameobi, Anichebe, Emenike and Ideye would be awesome. I wish that they stay injury-free during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I cannot wait for this wish to be actualised.

FROM MY MAIL BOX

Dear Ade,

I salute your thorough knowledge of Nigeria’s football, particularly the stars, and administrators. No sports writer can match your understanding and analysis of the problems assailing our national game and past time.

My only problem with you is your apparent over-rating of the skills and commitment of Mikel the Chelsea star. Recent events must have helped you to assess the player appropriately. The issue really is that Mikel lacks passion, shies away from the vital area of the opponents, his balls and kicks are so tame, devoid of strength and power-making it easy for defenders and goalkeepers to handle him. It would take a thoroughly non – calculating and obtuse keeper to let in Mikel’s free kick or spot-kick. Where then lies his stardom?

Now, the object of this letter is not Mikel but our common friend Stephen Keshi. His acrobatics in South-Africa and thereafter are in tune with the man. As we progressed into the competition, I knew he would throw some bombshell soonest. That he let it be known that he would resign, via a relation of his was characteristic of the man. Having won the acclaim of most Nigerians, including this writer, he attempted to make Nigerian fans (we are over One Hundred and Sixty Million, I am told) fight officials of the NFF. Remember some years ago when our players once attempted to refuse to play except some debts were settled by the football body? He probably knew about that threat. Did you know some of the antics of players when our man was Chief coach in some other African Countries? Find out.

Now Big Boss is complaining that some people wanted him to stand up and scream and shout at the players when things were going critical. What was wrong in this? Imagine the electrifying atmosphere during the last 5 to ten minutes of play and our boys were ‘playing with the ball’ instead of playing the ball in their box area, shouldn’t a coach, our coach stand up, scream, shout and bag at the boys not to be complacent but to push balls out of the box? These are normal things in football. People who are critical of Keshi are typical Nigerians, and Keshi in his I –know-it all attitude is a typical Nigerian. We are all learning and should accept it so.

•Deji Fasuan,

P.O. BOX 1020,

Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi was exceptional in Monday’s interview on DSTV. He chose his words. He acknowledged everyone’s contributions towards the February 10 feat at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Keshi observed decorum as he responded to key questions. Rather than compound issues, he offered diplomatic answers. He raised the hope of a brighter relationship with his employers when he apologised over what he termed ‘annoying’ answers of the past. That is the way forward, Big Boss. Do not be deceived by those urging you to discountenance your employer’s contributions.

One was particularly interested in what Keshi’s remarks would be on fielding Sunday Mba and the success story that the Warri Wolves striker struck in the country’s achievements.

Keshi tacitly evaded that the question. Instead, he chose to look at the home-based kids as a group. That was commendable. But it is instructive to state here that the purported meeting that led to Keshi’s decision to throw in the towel came from the fact that his employers allegedly forced him to field Mba, Kenneth Omeruo and Onazi. I had thought that the coach would clear the air on this issue. He chose to wave it aside. I know that he would return to it soon. His body language suggested that he would spill the beans again.

The story was that his employer didn’t see any reason why Joseph Yobo would play ahead of Omeruo. They were miffed that he played Omeruo at left back when he ought to have been fielded in the heart of the defence. I had thought that Omeruo’s inclusion arose from the gap created by the red card which Ambrose Efe had in the first game. There is more to this aspect of the story and I promise to unravel it.

While in Johannesburg, it was disclosed that the coach’s employers wanted Onazi to replace a fumbling Igiebor in the central midfield along with Mba and Mikel. The question many would ask is- why did they have to recruit the coach if they could do his job?

This expose is meant to open up what transpired in the ill-tempered meeting. It remains to be seen when Keshi would respond to some of these stories. Many of the board members had challenged Keshi to explain why he didn’t field these guys in earlier matches.

Like in the game of draught, it is those watching that notice the players’ flaws. It was good that Keshi took their advice. He could have rejected their directives.

As the interview progressed, it was quite interesting watching Victor Ikpeba challenge his former captain with certain facts. It was vintage Ikpeba. He was quite a stubborn lad as a player but massively talented.

However, the flaw in Keshi’s brilliant interview was his consistent reference to foreign coaches as whites. It had a tinge of xenophobia, a subtle racist slant that belies his hatred for whites, when in actual sense he meant Europeans.

One would have thought that a celebrity such as Keshi should have a public relations person who would groom him through pre-interview sessions to purge him of such irritating words as whites instead of Europeans.

Would anyone really say Europeans are whites as the colour indicates? I don’t think so. I would rather that Keshi used the term Europeans, which makes more sense than the xenophobic word- whites.

Aside this flaw, Keshi showed that he had learnt from his sojourn in Europe.

Keshi referred to Aminu Maigari as his boss and friend. But his revelation left gaps about other members of the board. He held back for other members, although he did say that it was his employers’ responsibility to arrange friendly games and other logistics for him.

True, but board members, such as Christopher Green, travelled with the squad throughout their preparations. No mention was made of his contributions? Did I hear you say that Ade has started again? No; this is stating the obvious because we must resolve the feud, if we truly want to move forward. Already, the board’s vice president, Mike Umeh, has challenged Keshi to name the two members. Umeh left unanswered what would happen if the coach doesn’t oblige. Fragile peace or peace of the graveyard, if you ask me.

Keshi talked about two board members who gave him hell in South Africa. I don’t need an oracle to spot Green and Emeka Inyama, two men who have followed the game with passion with Sharks FC of Port Harcourt and Enyimba FCof Aba, before handling Abia Warriors.

Green and Inyama know their onions. Perhaps, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Mike Umeh and Deji Tinubu are as exposed as they are in the game. But Green and Inyanma played the game even though not to Keshi’s level. Some of their tips could be handy.

In the spirit of true reconciliation, Keshi should embrace Green and Inyama. It doesn’t make him the weaker person. It would portray him as a mature man with a large heart and as an incredible team player. Time to sheathe the sword is now.

The biggest lesson that Keshi should learn is how to be receptive to suggestions, no matter how poorly or rudely they were delivered. Hitherto, this writer received calls from the Big Boss.

For many people, this writer hounded the former Eagles chief coach Samson Siasia because he wanted Keshi. Do they still hold this position now that Keshi has delivered the Africa Cup of Nations diadem? I doubt it.

“Ade cannot change. He attacks every Nigerian coach. He wants a European coach for the Eagles.” These are some of the potshots thrown at this writer. I support foreign coaches because of their exploits with our national teams- until this feat by Keshi. No apologies for my position because I want the best for my country.

Even Keshi is not averse to employing European coaches. Such coaches must be the best, he says and I agree. Such tacticians as Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola etc. Why not? We have the cash.

Keshi says he is prepared to learn from the best foreign coaches. That view tells the story of a man who wants to succeed. I hope that chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) watched the Monday night interview because we need a renowned European tactician to rejuvenate the body’s technical department. We need to define the way we want to play our football, using the finer qualities of the average Nigerian footballer.

We need a football template that would be introduced to the youth at the grassroots such that it would be very easy to go to any of our age grade teams and pick a replacement(s) for any position in the Super Eagles. Nigerian football needs a style unique to us, like we see with Brazilians, Dutch, Germans, French and Spaniards.

We could opt for the hybrid, but that initiative must come from renowned European coaches with a rich history of nurturing football nurseries. I wish Arsene Wenger were available for us. Perhaps either Harry Redknapp or Pep Guardiola would be the suitable option. I just wish they would come.

Our footballers are talented, but they need to be taught the rudiments of the game at a much younger level. It hurts to see Eagles coaches teach our senior players how to control the ball and what side of the foot they should hit the ball with. These are elementary stuff taught at the academy levels, which are missing in our football system. Our local league is an eyesore. The state football federations don’t exist. We only hear of them when it is time to accompany the national teams to international competitions. They hardly have syncronised football programmes.

The game is played in the state by government owned teams. Most of the state football federations’ chiefs lack the initiative to design programmes that would effectively engage the grassroots coaches and the players.

A renowned European coach as our technical man would help train and retrain our coaches. It is true that Adegboye Onigbinde can man the position but he won’t earn the respect of our local coaches, some of who believe that his methods are not in sync with the modern time and that he needs to give way for the younger ones.

Need I state how Onigbinde’s efforts have been frustrated by coaches that he even groomed as players? Nigeria is the only country where anyone can present himself as a coach and he gets the job. No standards are set. It is unbelievable that Nigerian coaches are in cadre C, the equivalent of primary six in coaching in Africa. It is not good enough, irrespective of what Keshi has achieved with the Eagles in South Africa.