The Nation Newspaper

Tag: keshi

  • Battle of Calabar: Keshi to release Eagles’ list next week

    Battle of Calabar: Keshi to release Eagles’ list next week

    The Super Eagles list for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda in September will be released next week, Prompt News gathered Thursday.

    “We are expecting the list of players for the game against Rwanda from Eagles handler Stephen Keshi soon and we shall make it public latest by next week. I think we are at par with Keshi despite the fact that the contract talk is still going on.

    “Keshi has agreed to lead the Eagles for the game against Rwanda, we (NFF) are waiting for him to send his list so that we can release it to the public” an Executive Committee member said.

    Our source disclosed that the contract papers with Keshi will be finalised latest by next week Tuesday noting that there are few issues to be tidied when Keshi returns from his holidays in the United States of America (USA).

  • Keshi’s contract talk heading for the rocks

    Keshi’s contract talk heading for the rocks

    • As NFF eyes Jonathan’s intervention 

    In as much as Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi has agreed to continue to coach the senior national football team, the major impediment to signing a new contract remains the monthly wages he is requesting for and such amount presently put at N15 million may not see the light of the day after all.

    A top source from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) revealed to SportingLife in Abuja yesterday that there is no way the Federation will be able to pay more than the N5million they have been insisting on to pay the former Green Eagles defender.

    As a result of this the source disclosed that they had already put machinery in motion for plan B in other not to caught unawares in case Keshi decides not to take up the job again. The source also added that unless the Federal Government through the National Sports Commission could come to the aid of the NFF to pay the bills of the coach, an agreement might not be reached by both parties at the end of the day.

    “As the situation is presently concerning the contract of Coach Stephen Keshi, I would say the ball is in Keshi’s court for us at the NFF to seal his contract once and for all. What people failed to understand is the fact that we labored hard to pay him the N5 million monthly salary we were paying during his first stint with the Eagles as the Chief Coach.

    “So, to tell us now to either double or triple Keshi’s monthly salary in the proposed new contract is like a proverbial camel to pass through the eye of the needle. It is absolutely difficult and I don’t see it as a possibility for now.

    “The only miracle that I believe could happen to rescue this situation is for our sports loving President Goodluck Jonathan to come to our aid by assisting the Federation in the payment of the Coach’s emoluments. Anything besides that I would say is a ruse. But in the alternative if the Coach agrees with our proposal then the contract will be instantly signed and work will begin.

    “This time around what we are guiding against is owing Keshi and other coaches their salaries. We want a situation where their salaries will be paid and get alerts as at when due every month,” the source SportingLife.

    The NFF influential member also said that this time around Keshi must be deeply involved in grass-root football and football development in the country is a primary assignment that the coach must ensure it is done in other to produce and prepare enough young and talented football stars for the nation.

    “All these will be duly discussed with Keshi and also be enshrined in the contract we will sign with him when we later agree on every areas of the contract,” the source summed up.

  • Keshi’s deal ready in 24 hours

    Keshi’s deal ready in 24 hours

    • NFF man keeps mute on details

    Stephen Keshi’s new contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will be ready in the next 24 hours, according to his agent, Emmanuel Ado.

    Keshi’s representatives have been locked in talks with the NFF team led by Deji Tinubu, and after almost six hours of discussions on Wednesday, Ado has told SL0.ng that the contract should be ready for Keshi’s signature within the next 24-hours.

    He said: “Negotiations have been going on well and we are very hopeful that in the next 24-hours, there will be a contract ready for Stephen Keshi to sign.”

    NFF had announced a couple of weeks ago of their desire to have Keshi continue as the Eagles gaffer, but SL10.ng can report that contract negotiations only officially commenced on Wednesday. And Emmanuel Ado posits that negotiations have been progressive.

    “The talks have been progressive and Keshi’s lawyer will take a look at the final draft of the contract once it is ready so I don’t think we have any problems there.”

    Meanwhile, he went on to say that they haven’t asked for a N10m monthly salary, but insists that Keshi is not N5m Coach.

    “There was never a time we asked for N10million and Keshi shouldn’t be portrayed as a money monger. But be that as it may, I insist that Keshi is not a 5million Naira Coach, neither is he a 10million Naira Coach. But there are a lot of issues besides money that has to be sorted and that is what Keshi is asking for,” he posited.

    On the part of the NFF, their chief negotiator ‘Deji Tinubu has refused to speak on the details of the contract, but reacted to the position of Keshi’s camp that the former Nigeria captain is not a N5m Coach after it emerged that was the NFF’s opening offer.

    He said: “I cannot talk about the details of the contract yet until it is ready and signed. We have to keep the confidentiality of the deal but we have to deliberate on it and get back to them so it can be signed as soon as possible.

    “If somebody says he’s going to pay his staff a particular amount, it is alright for the employee to reject it because he or she probably has a valuation of his or herself. They’ve come to us with something but we will get back to them with what we can afford and what we think is adequate,” Tinubu said.

  • SUPER EAGLES’ JOB: Keshi resumes next week

    SUPER EAGLES’ JOB: Keshi resumes next week

    All things being  equal, Stephen Keshi is expected to resume as Nigeria coach next week, according to the NFF executive committee.

    “The executive committee has mandated the secretariat to reach out to Keshi and conclude the details of his contract,” stated NFF board spokesperson Emeka Inyama.

    “We expect that the signing would be next week so that he can resume work ahead of the fast approaching 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.”

    Also head of the three-man committee set up to discuss with Keshi, Deji Tinubu told AfricanFootball.com: “We will open talks with Keshi’s lawyer immediately to ensure that the process is concluded in time for him to resume work.”

    Nigeria host Rwanda in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on September 7.

    South Africa and Sudan are the other teams in this qualifying pool with the top two teams advancing to the tournament proper in Morocco in January.

  • Keshi resumes next week

    Keshi resumes next week

    All things being equal, Stephen Keshi will resume as Super Eagles coach next week, according to the Nigeria Football Federation executive committee.

    “The executive committee has mandated the secretariat to reach out to Keshi and conclude the details of his contract,” africanFootball.com quoted NFF board spokesperson, Emeka Inyama, as saying on Thursday.

    “We expect that the signing would be next week so that he can resume work ahead of the fast approaching 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.”

    Also head of the three-man committee set up to discuss with Keshi, Deji Tinubu told africanFootball.com: “We will open talks with Keshi’s lawyer immediately to ensure that the process is concluded in time for him to resume work.”

    Nigeria hosts Rwanda in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on September 7.

    South Africa and Sudan are the other teams in this qualifying pool with the top two teams advancing to the tournament proper in Morocco in January.

  • Eguavoen: Keshi needs to improve technically

    Eguavoen: Keshi needs to improve technically

    Austin Eguavoen, Former Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria has waded into the ongoing debate if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should retain the services of Stephen Keshi as head coach of the senior national team.

    The 48-year-old was speaking to a Lagos State based radio station, Brilafm, when he reckoned that the Big Boss has done well since he took charge of the Super Eagles – winning the African Nations Cup and making the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after failing to achieve such feat since 1998.

    The current technical adviser of Gombe United says that if Keshi is eventually retained as the gaffer of the national team manager- he must develop himself by associating with top FA’s like the Dutch and Brazilian Federations.

    “I am not saying because Stephen Keshi is my friend then he deserves to stay- look at records, he has done well. He can only improve.

    “Jose Mourinho and other big coaches in the world do not sleep, so my only advice to Keshi, will be to try and associate with these top coaches.

    “He should go to football federations like the Dutch FA, Brazilian FA and ask questions because nobody knows it all. He still has a lot to improve on and he can take it up from there,” he submitted.

    Stephen Keshi is currently negotiating a new deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after his contract expired after the World Cup.

  • OIL MONEY speaking: Angola offer for Keshi fantastic

    OIL MONEY speaking: Angola offer for Keshi fantastic

     • Within $150,000 to $200,000

    Brother to Super Eagles chief coach, Emmanuel Ado has described the proposed salary package which Angola offered to Stephen Keshi to coach its national team  as too tempting to ignore.

    But Keshi seems not moved as he awaits the Nigeria FA chiefs to formally make their bid which he hopes would come soon, considering the nearness of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

    On Wednesday, Ado told SportingLife that Keshi’s N5m salary as Eagles handler is no match when compared with the Angola offer which will be paid in US dollars. Angola and Nigeria are oil rich nations.

    “I have a copy of the offer from Angola in my mail box as l speak to you and l must tell you it is beautiful,” Ado revealed to SportingLife.

    As expected, Ado declined to mention the exact figure but hinted it was within the region of $150,000 to $200,000.

    “It is not below $100,000  and of course by the time you convert it into our local currency, it is better than what he is presently receiving as the Super Eagles coach,” he explained.

    When SportingLife asked Ado for Keshi’s reasons for not accepting the offer, he said:  “There are other considerations that we have to look at. Money is good but at the same time, it is not everything. My brother loves Nigeria and is only waiting on the Nigeria FA to make their bid,” he said.

    Ado, however, denied the report that Keshi is insisting on N10m as monthly salary from NFF. “Until they make their offer, Keshi cannot say anything. It is what they say and offer that will determine the negotiation and not what we read in the pages of newspapers,” he added.

    Ado who also doubles as Keshi’s media aide opened up on the supposed interest of South Africa to contract the latter for the then vacant Bafana Bafana seat which he claimed never existed. “In the first instance there was never any offer from South Africa. In the last 22 years South Africa has had 17 coaches. When coaches are fired or they resign voluntarily in South Africa there is always a debate for a foreign or local coach, several names will be thrown up and perhaps Keshi’s name was mentioned but they (South Africa) never approached Keshi,” he said.

    In 2011, Angola was listed as one of the most expensive countries in the world that was confirmed by those who visited the country when it hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010.

    Other oil rich countries such as Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have also shown interest in Keshi.

  • ‘Keshi deserves N20m monthly salary’

    ‘Keshi deserves N20m monthly salary’

    President of 36 Lion, Alhaji Gafar Liameed, has thrown his weight behind the idea of paying Super Eagles handler, Stephen Keshi, a monthly salary of N20 million when his contract is finally renewed.

    Liameed, who also manages the football matters of Al Arabi new recruit, Imoh Ezekiel, said Keshi had a gerat performance in his first stint as Eagles boss and surpassed the achievements of expatriate coaches such as Beri Vogts and Lars Lagerback, so the Nigerian gaffer deserved to earn more.

    “Well, I don’t see anything bad in the Nigerian Football Federation paying Stephen Keshi the N20 million he (Keshi) is asking for,” Liameed began.

    “He has done so much for the Super Eagles since he took over and if the NFF wants him to achieve more he has to be paid more money like his counterparts abroad or in places like South Africa, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and the rest.”

    Liameed also frowned at a situation where the NFF would be searching for a new coach all over again.

    “The good thing about continuity is that it gives room for correction and at the end of the day good results would start pouring in,” said he.

    “Keshi knows where he got it wrong at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, so, he has the experience to correct such mistakes in subsequent matches and competitions.

    “This time around he will be able to employ the needed tactics and the needed players to execute his game plans.

    “So, I subscribe to the NFF leadership extending his contract and improving it greatly for him to succeed and surpass the records he has set in his first stint as Eagles handler.

    “I wholeheartedly support and subscribe to Keshi being paid a monthly salary of N20 million that I heard he is requesting for,” the 36 Lion Football Club boss told SportingLife yesterday.

  • I have unfinished business with Nigeria – Keshi

    I have unfinished business with Nigeria – Keshi

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has expressed his desire to extend his contract with Nigeria.

    The AFCON-winning coach in a chat with africanFootball.com from his base in the United States said:”Yes, I met with Deji Tinubu in Lagos before heading out for America to see my family.

    “It’s my country, I am ready to serve. I have started something I would love to finish.”

    However, Keshi quickly added the working conditions for his new deal have to be better than what he had previously.

    “But I cannot work the way I worked last time. It’s not possible! All my staff, no!no!!no!! We have to be professional, everybody has to do what they are supposed to do,” he stated.

    “I cannot be paying another staff salary, when I am not the Nigeria Football Federation. We will see how it goes. If the conditions are met, we will be there, no wahala.”

    In the meantime, the NFF has disclosed to africanFootball.com that it will forward a letter of intent for contract renewal this week to the former Super Eagles captain.

    Tinubu, the Head of a three-man committee for Keshi’s contract renewal, said: “We have made tremendous progress.

    “We will first send a letter of our intent for a renewal of his contract and expect a reply from him as quickly as possible.

    “This would allow us to start working on the terms of contract. We would have our terms and we know he would have his terms. But we would be working in such a way that we would arrive at an agreeable term that would suit both parties and then hopefully he signs.

    “We can’t put a time limit on this, but we hope we are done with it as quick as possible considering that we have a game in September,” Tinubu stated.

     

  • Keshi offered N7m-a- month contract

    Keshi offered N7m-a- month contract

    The Nigeria Football Federation has offered Stephen Keshi an improved contract of seven million naira a month (over $44,000) a top official told africanFootball.com.

    In his first contract, which expired after the World Cup, the former Super Eagles captain earned five million naira monthly and has now demanded twice that amount.

    Keshi, who was not considered for the South African post and the NFF are expected to finalise a new deal next week.

    The official who has been part of the contract talks said the “Big Boss” wishes to continue as Nigeria coach

    “We have had meetings with Keshi and the good news is that he is willing to continue as coach of the Super Eagles,” the official told africanFootball.com.

    “He is only concerned that most of the fringe benefits in his contract were not provided and demands better treatment from the Federation.

    “I think the first step was a success and we will build on it because the (2015 Africa Cup of Nations) qualifiers are not far away.”

    The Super Eagles will in early September begin the defence of the AFCON crown won in South Africa last year.

    The African champions will play in a group comprising South Africa, Sudan and either Congo or Rwanda.