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Tag: keshi

  • Keshi was a role model to us – Mutiu Adepoju

    Keshi was a role model to us – Mutiu Adepoju

    Erstwhile Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has said that most of them were looking up to the departed Stephen Keshi as a role model in the national team.

    “Before we joined the national team, we were all looking up to him as captain. He was such a cool and calm person who never talked too much while in the team. He was very firm and nice to all of us when we joined the team. He was respected on the team because of the way he carried himself,” he said.

    Adepoju, however described Keshi as a motivator, particularly during crucial matches involving the national team. “We all respect him because he had good intention and he was always motivating the team. When we joined the team, we had a good relationship with him.”

    The former 3SC star said he spoke to the late coach last month, while acknowledging that during his tenure as the gaffer of the Eagles, Keshi brought sanity to Nigerian football when he led the team to win the AFCON in 2013.

    “I think Nigeria will remember Keshi for his efforts to bring sanity to Nigerian football at a time when everybody has lost hope. He gave direction to Nigerian football by defying all odds, with the introduction of home-based players into the national team.

    “Particularly players that were now known, but he took the risk and it was these same players that ensured that we won the title in South Africa. He will also be remembered as the only Nigerian to win the AFCON as a player and as a coach. We will surely miss him and it was painful that he had to leave at this time,” Adepoju lamented.

  • Why I made Keshi captain – Onigbinde

    Why I made Keshi captain – Onigbinde

    Former Super Eagles handler, Adegboye Onigbinde has described the late national team captain, Stephen Keshi as a dedicated and committed Nigerian endowed with leadership qualities.

    Onigbinde told NationSport on Wednesday that he was shocked over the unexpected demise of Keshi adding that the nation would surely miss his service.

    “When I named the captain, I saw some qualities in him and he was also a dedicated player. He has this leadership trait that stands him out so it was easy for me to name him the captain of the senior national team in 1983. After then we were not that close, but I knew when he worked with Shuaibu Amodu as assistant coach and when he took charge of the team,” he said.

    “We will surely miss his service and it is unfortunate that he had to leave us at this time,” he added.

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  • CAF commiserates with NFF on Keshi’s death

    CAF commiserates with NFF on Keshi’s death

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Issa Hayatou, on Wednesday condoled with the president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, and Nigerians on the death of former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi.

    Hayatou in a statement on CAF website expressed his “dismay” and “immense sadness” at the death of the former Eagles’ captain.

    He paid glowing tribute to the deceased, who was the only African coach to qualify two African teams to the World Cup – Togo in 2006 and Nigeria in 2014, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    “’His other enviable record was being the only African trainer to have steered a team to the Second Round of the FIFA World Cup, with Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    “He had achieved the same feat as a player with the Super Eagles at the country’s maiden participation at the Mundial in 1994, in USA.

    “’The CAF president conveyed the condolences on his own behalf, the CAF Executive Committee and African football family on the demise of Keshi, who was a jewel to his family, friends and the Nigerian football family, who are badly affected.

    “This is a man, who was twice winner of the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria; in 1994 as captain and in 2013 as a coach, with the latter earning him the distinction of Coach of the Year at the Glo-CAF Awards,” NAN quoted the CAF president  as saying in the statement.

     

  • Keshi was our hero, a jinx breaker – Mark

    Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has described the death of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, as a monumental loss to Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    Mark in a statement issued by his media aide said: “I received with shock and disbelieve the news of the death of our indefatigable coach Stephen Keshi popularly called the ‘Big Boss ‘. It’s devastating, it’s a sad story.

    “Keshi was one of the greatest and most successful footballers Nigeria has ever produced. Till date, no one has beaten his record. As a captain of the Super Eagles in 1994, he won the Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia. As the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles in 2013, he led Nigeria to win the Nations’ Cup in South Africa.

    “He was forthright and outspoken. He was steadfast. He never compromised his position especially on professionalism no matter whose ox was gored.  Keshi was to African football what Mohammed Ali was to Boxing.

    “Only a very few men in the world has such an intimidating credential. We cannot question the Will of the Almighty creator, but this is one death too many.

    “Keshi’s death is akin to death of more than a hundred massacred in a pogrom. Keshi was one of our greatest footballers. He lived and worked for Nigeria. He certainly left a huge vacuum that would be difficult to fill.”

    The ex- Senate president asked Nigerians especially the football family to take solace in the fact that Keshi left his positive footprint on the sands of time.

    To the deceased’s immediate family, Mark told them to build on the uncommon patriotism, unwavering commitment to the ideals of nationhood and resourcefulness which Keshi was known for.

    He prayed that God grant the ex-Super Eagles captain eternal rest just as he prayed that the Almighty give the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

     

     

  • Autopsy will determine cause of Keshi’s death – Family

    Autopsy will determine cause of Keshi’s death – Family

    A member of the late Stephen Keshi’s family, Rickey Aburime, has said a toxicological autopsy will determine the actual cause of the ex-Super Eagles coach’s death.

    Keshi died at Faith Mediplex hospital in Benin, Edo State, where he was rushed to at about 11:30pm on Tuesday.

    Rickey warned against speculation about the cause of Keshi’s death and debunked media reports that Keshi died of heart attack.

    He said Keshi was meeting some friends and family members at his Benin City resident when he suddenly fell sick.

    According to Aburime, it took less than 15 minutes to rush the ex-Super Eagles captain to the hospital after the crisis started but was already dead by the time they got to the hospital.

    He said: “All of a sudden, they that noticed his countenance changed and he was not okay. The person with him called Ebuka and they rushed him to the hospital. He was dead by the time they got to the hospital. A nurse that checked him said there was no pulse. Doctors later confirmed him dead.

    “After the confirmation, as he was not a patient of the hospital, they could not write any report or present any death certificate. They said we must bring the police report and the police came to inspect the body. I am about to take the corpse to Stella Obasanjo hospital pending the autopsy which the family want to do. Dr. Wilson Akhiwu will conduct the autopsy.”

    “There is no official statement as to the cause of death. There will be no embalming. It was sudden and we don’t want anybody to speculate. There was no sign of ill health and Keshi has not complained of any recently.”

  • Footballing world mourns Keshi

    Footballing world mourns Keshi

    Football lovers, fans and umpires around the world on Wednesday mourn the shocking death of former Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, popularly known as the Big Boss.

    Following the announcement of Keshi’s death, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) said: “His influence on the pitch cannot be underestimated. He enjoyed a successful club career in his home continent before exporting his talents to Europe, starring in cup and league-winning Anderlecht sides and endearing himself to Strasbourg fans in France with a stunning long range goal against Rennes that helped promote Le Racing to Ligue 1.

    Throughout his stellar playing and managerial career, ‘Big Boss’ certainly allowed fans, team-mates and his own players themselves to dream. Tributes from around the footballing world have poured in for Keshi, after his tragic and sudden passing at the age of 54.

    Chelsea Football Club of England acknowledged the coaching impact of late Keshi in making great players like Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel, both football players at Chelsea FC. The English club took to its social media platform to say: “All at CFC are saddened to hear of former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi’s death. He worked with Mikel & Victor Moses

    Similarly, Fatima Samoura, first female FIFA’s Secretary General appointed on 13 May 2016, expressed her great shock at the news when she posted on her social media handle saying:

    Brown Ideye, Nigeria’s central striker who plays his football with Greek club Olympiacos FC was not left out as he laments the tragic departure of  Big Boss from planet earth. Ideye in his social media post said: “This is one of the saddest days of my life?. I will never forget the happy days, you coached me. RIP Big boss?? pic.twitter.com/mqNhFhFzK3

    Other football bodies and individuals around the world as follow:

     

    FIFA further said in its article that it is Keshi’s international career that will perhaps evoke the strongest memories though. As well as playing his part in that memorable AFCON title in 1994, he helped guide the Super Eagles to their first FIFA World Cup™, playing five games on the road to the USA before featuring just once at the finals (as captain) due to injury.

    “With many African countries looking for coaching experience from outside the continent to lead their countries at major tournaments, Keshi was a beacon of hope for coaches from the mother continent. Not only was he the first Nigerian to lead his country to the AFCON title, he was the first African coach to lead a team to the Round of 16 at a World Cup, achieving that feat at Brazil 2014,” the world football governing body noted.

    The social media is agog with messages of condolence after news of Keshi’s death stunned the global footballing community.

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  • We have lost a ‘super hero’ in Keshi – Pinnick

    We have lost a ‘super hero’ in Keshi – Pinnick

    President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick, has said the country has suffered a huge loss with the death of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.

    “This is devastating. We have lost a super hero,” said Pinnick.

    Pinnick confirmed he had been in contact with the family and would lead a delegation of some NFF Board and Congress members to Benin City on Thursday.

    “The NFF board will meet and decide on the best way to honour Stephen Keshi. We will be fully involved in the arrangements for the final burial rites.”

    Pinnick has directed that all centres hosting matches of the Nigeria Professional Football League on Wednesday should observe a minute’s silence before kick –off.

    The NFF has already informed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the world body, FIFA about Keshi’s death.

    Former Nigeria coach, Austin Eguavoen, who played alongside the late coach for the Super Eagles, said he remembers giving way for Keshi to receive the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations trophy in Tunisia.

    “I recall how I allowed him to receive the trophy when we won the 1994 Nations Cup even though he did not play the final. No body ordered me to this,” said Eguavoen.

    He added: “It’s a huge loss to the nation. He was a leader on the pitch, he represented the coach on the pitch, he may not have been that much of a technician, but tactically he was very good and he played for a top club like Anderlecht.

    “He stood for what he believes and that may be why he had problems with the NFF.”

    Nigeria caretaker coach, Salisu Yusuf, said he is still in a shock over the death of the man fondly called the “Big Boss.”

    “It’s a big shock. He wished me luck before our match against Luxembourg just last month,” Yusuf told africanFootball.com

    “He was an easy-going gentleman, a father who I learnt from when I assisted him last year.”

  • Ex- Super Eagles coach Keshi is dead

    Ex- Super Eagles coach Keshi is dead

    Former coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, is dead.

    Keshi, 54, popularly known as the big boss, reportedly died of cardiac arrest in the early hours of Wednesday in Benin, Edo State.

    His death was confirmed in a statement issued by the family and signed by Emmanuel Ado, titled: “Stephen Keshi (CON) has gone to be with his wife.”

    “With thanksgiving to God, the Ogbuenyi Fredrick Keshi family of Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, announces the death of Mr. Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi.

    “Our son, brother, father, father-in-law,brother-in-law, has gone to be with his wife of 35 years (Nkem), Mrs. Kate Keshi, who passed on on the 9th of  December 2015.

    “Since her death, Keshi has been in mourning. He came back to Nigeria to be with her. He had planned to fly back today Wednesday, before he suffered a cardiac arrest. He has found rest.

    “We thank God for his life.

    “We want to ask for understanding in this very difficult time for the family,” Ado stated.

  • Keshi denies Pirates reports

    Keshi denies Pirates reports

    Former Nigeria boss Stephen Keshi has dismissed reports suggesting he is on the verge of being named as Orlando Pirates new head coach.

    “Honestly I’m shocked to hear this,” Keshi told SuperSport.com. “I don’t know where this is coming from because I have not discussed anything or offer with anyone and my representative have not done so too, or otherwise I would have been informed.

    “Like I told you the last time if I’m approached and the deal meets my terms, why not? I’m a professional and open to offers provided they are good enough for me.”

    Widespread reports in the South African media have suggested that Keshi is being lined up as coach Eric Tinkler’s replacement, with a deal thought to be close to being agreed.

    However, Keshi has expressed his surprise at the recent reports, insisting that he hadn’t been contacted about the Pirates job.

    Keshi’s representative, Tim Sukazi of QT Sports, echoed the sentiments of the former Nigeria coach, telling Business Day: “I should emphasise that at this stage, there is no such deal.

    “He signed up with us to manage him because of our stronghold in SA and, it is our intention to bring him here. If Pirates come out and say they need a coach, then definitely, we’ll look to take him there. But have we engaged with Pirates in that regard? No.”

  • I recommended Keshi’s sack -Green

    I recommended Keshi’s sack -Green

    NFF Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Christopher Green has further revealed that his committee recommended the sacking of former Super Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi because of his arrogance and lack of respect for constituted authorities.

    The former Technical Committee Chairman in a chat with Sportinglife in Port Harcourt, said: “I personally recommended the sack of Stephen Keshi because he has no respect for the nation. He has no remorse whatsoever for any of his actions. You need to see how he presented himself when he appeared before our committee. He showed no remorse, and never believed he did anything wrong. So I had to recommend his sack”

    The Rivers State FA Chairman called on all stakeholders to rally round the present board of the NFF to ensure that they take the country’s football to another level

    “We need to support the President of NFF Amaju Pinnick in his quest in repositioning Nigeria football, he has a vision for the country’s football, and we should support him”.

    On the Nigeria League, the NFF Executive Committee Member said: “We can see that there is a lot of improvement in the League, and this can be buttressed by the number of away wins that have been recorded in the season, and the breaking of the 13- year-record of Kano Pillars in Kano. That is good for our football, and everyone can see that you can win anywhere, as long as you play well. We need to praise the LMC and everyone involved in the administration of the League” he said.