With the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) yet to settle the issue of extending Stephen Keshi’s contract, SL10.ng spoke again to former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu, a member of the NFF technical committee on the matter, and also on several other topical issues in Nigerian football.
SL10: As a member of the NFF technical committee, what can you tell us about the proposed contract extension for Stephen Keshi and why it’s being delayed?
Chukwu: First of all, I have to correct the impression and tell you that it is not being delayed. If you say it’s being delayed, it makes it sound deliberate but I can assure you that it’s not. The second thing is that it is the responsibility of the NFF to do that and they already inaugurated a committee to look into the issue.
SL10: So what then do you think is delaying the extension of his contract?
Chukwu: Everybody knows the problems bedevilling Nigerian football right now and that alone is enough to delay so many things from happening. That’s why I said it’s not a deliberate act to delay the contract extension. The NFF have stated several times that they want Keshi to continue and I don’t think they’ll make such statements if they didn’t want him. It’s as simple as that, I think it will happen soon.
SL10: So the way it stands now, don’t you think this delay might creep into the 2015 AFCON qualifiers which starts early next month?
Chukwu: No, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. This contract extension we are talking about isn’t exactly rocket science and we shouldn’t make it seem so. It’s just for the NFF to call Keshi and they sit together and agree on the terms of a new contract and that will be it. It doesn’t take a year or a month to do that. Both parties have already agreed to work together again, so that’s one issue resolved. It’s just left for them to discuss terms and agree.
SL10: Keshi told us in an interview that his previous contract wasn’t respected, and he expects that to change amongst several other things. He seems to be making a lot of demands, don’t you think it’ll take some time to sort?
Chukwu: Well, I don’t know of any demands he’s making so I couldn’t say anything on that. But I’m sure these things will be sorted once both parties sit together. I don’t think it’s a big problem.
SL10: So how soon are they discussing the terms for a new contract?
Chukwu: I don’t know. You have to pose that question to the NFF.
SL10: Do you really subscribe to the idea of having Keshi continue?
Chukwu: Yes, I do. He has done well for this country in the shortest possible time and I know what that means. What he has done isn’t something that is done overnight. No, it always takes time. But in just over two years, he’s shot himself to become the best and most sought after coach in Africa. So yes, I want him to continue.
SL10: Let us talk about the Flying Eagles. This is one team that Nigerians have been raving about and many people think 2018 might just be the year an African country wins the World Cup and who better to do that than Nigeria with the current crop of U-20 players. What do you think?
Chukwu: I share a similar sentiment about the quality of the players in the team, but 2018, that I cannot speak about. We have to wait and see how they progress and then we can talk about it. Maybe by the year 2016, we should have a clearer picture of how the team will be. They have some very good players and I’m excited at the prospect of seeing them in the Super Eagles but we shouldn’t rush them. They should grow naturally and that’d be good for us.
SL10: What do you think about Kelechi Iheanacho?
Chukwu: Ah wonderful player that one. He’s got huge potentials and I hope he goes on to fulfil those potentials. I hear he even scored for the Manchester City first team. That shows you how good he is and how fortunate we are to have him as our own. I’m also excited about Chidera Ezeh. Another fantastic player that doesn’t get equal recognition, but I think we should watch out for him. That could be another Nwankwo Kanu.
SL10: Thank you very much, Chairman
Chukwu: My pleasure always.
