Stephen Keshi needs help. We must save his coaching career. Keshi has unwittingly fallen into the mind games trap set for him by Malawi’s coach Saintfiet, who feels that is the best way to distract him. He must be joking.
We know why the Belgian is crying wolf over Keshi’s seemingly uncouth utterances, which at that time he thought was an expression of his angst against the coach for daring to insinuate that Calabar was unsafe. We mustn’t make Keshi Sainfiet’s fall guy.
Nigeria will beat Malawi groggy, but it shouldn’t come with any price – FIFA ban on Keshi. It is on this score that this writer feels that a ground work should begin to free Keshi from this trap. It is good to read Keshi’s comment that he didn’t mean what he said the way in which the Belgian interpreted it. Good talk, Big Boss. Now you know that English isn’t our mother tongue and we need to watch our utterances.
This writer warned Keshi in this column on the need to address foreign coaches as Europeans instead of whites. My comments arose from what he said in dismissing the contributions of foreign coaches to African football. Rather than heed the advice, he tagged me an enemy. Keshi knows better now.
We have led Keshi to this path because we have condoned his jibes at his employers. Perhaps, Saintfiet’s case will compel the Big Boss to choose his words carefully, especially when addressing those whose views are different from his.
However, we cannot allow a coach that we rejected disgrace our best, no matter what. When FIFA’s letter comes, NFF chiefs must get good lawyers to respond to it. Given where Keshi has been in the last decade or more (California, US), such terminologies don’t mean any harm.
We must explore the possibility of using diplomacy in getting Saintfiet to take it easy when he comes for the game in Calabar. The Belgian is angry with the way in which he lost the Nigerian job. Malawi FA chiefs could be persuaded to talk with him on the need to embrace peace. Such soft landing mechanism can provide the platform for Keshi to apologise to him at the post-match meeting.
Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi should exploit the possibility of speaking with the leader of the Malawian delegation to urge Saintfiet to back down on his pursuit of justice from FIFA over what he has termed Keshi’s racist comments.
The allegation is weighty. Nigeria will lose more, if Keshi is axed by FIFA. Without any doubt, Keshi would be found to have infringed on the rules of the game, given the Luis Suarez vs Evra precedent in the Barclays English Premier League. Suarez called Evra a “negro”, a word used in his native Uruguay to describe a dark-skinned person. Between “negro and white dude,” the difference is the same because it describes the colour of the skin of the individuals concerned. On that score, Keshi is culpable. What we don’t know is what the punishment will be. But it could be a lengthy ban. If it happens that way (God forbid), Daniel Amokachi cannot sustain the good foundation Keshi has laid.
Going through a FIFA document on racism, it appears that Keshi may be banned for five weeks or even more. There is also the clause for first offender or a minor case, depending on how FIFA eggheads classify Keshi’s matter. My worry about the FIFA five-match ban is its description. Is it five FIFA World Cup matches or any five matches that Nigeria plays? It could be five FIFA World Cup matches, depending on when the decision is taken, then no 2014 World Cup for the Big Boss (God forbid). If it isn’t, then Keshi could sit out any five games. Sincerely, Keshi must learn how to talk to people respectfully. It won’t take anything away from who he is.
We should save Keshi from this organised chaos by employing diplomatic moves through government-to-government discussion or FA-to-FA jaw-jaw. But I must warn that these two meetings must be done after the game, perhaps at the post-match conference. Only post-match discussions will suffice, lest we are accused of match fixing.
If Keshi escapes this ban, his public speeches should be curtailed, especially those in the foreign media. Keshi should know now that he is the face of our football. Whatever he says counts. He can do with some polish ing by his media men.
One is miffed that Saintfiet is being given cheap publicity, with this needless saga. But, who is to blame when you have a talkative of a coach? Who?
Victor Moses’ cross
Victor Moses must be cursing himself for joining Chelsea now that the “Special One”, Jose Mourinho, isn’t favourably disposed to having the Super Eagles gem in his squad.
Mourinho’s decision is shocking because he had showered encomiums on the Nigerian, until he left Chelsea for Nigeria’s game against South Africa on August 10 as part of activities marking the Mandela Challenge in Durban.
When the story broke that Mourinho had declared Moses missing from the team, I knew that his days at Chelsea were over. Mourinho doesn’t tolerate indiscipline. There is no second chance for defaulters. So, for Moses, the game is up.
Moses needs to leave Chelsea to plan his future. He must remain in England to show Mourinho what he is missing. Moses should be prepared to pay the difference in whatever negotiations is struck to have him out of Stamford Bridge.
With the 2014 World Cup in Brazil looking like a reality for Nigeria, Moses has no business sitting on the bench of any club, irrespective of the glut of stars there.
We are told that Moses could join Liverpool next Monday, which is good. If it doesn’t happen, Moses must quickly decide on his future before the next transfer window opens in January 2014.
Cry for D’ Tigers
I’m not a fan of Nigerian coaches. So, I’m surprised that Nigeria’s senior basketball side lost to Senegal at the AfroBasket tournament holding in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire.
After the 2012 London Olympic Games, I wrote here that D’Tigers’ major problem was coaching. Our coaches exhibited poor understanding of the matches in London. I canvassed refresher courses for them. I was shocked when the coach resigned his appointment. I expected the NBBF not to look in his direction when the opportunity to recruit a new coach became necessary. But they did, making it imperative to ask if they are shocked that D’Tigers lost the game to Senegal?
In Nigeria, we have this habit of engaging the reverse gear and expect the car to move forward. Ordinarily, NBBF ought to have sent the coaches who handled the squad at the London 2012 Olympic Games for refresher courses where they would be taught the finer details of the game, especially how to read matches.
With this failed adventure, I expect the NBBF to send our coaches on refresher courses. If it cannot raise the cash, the federation can invite renowned basketball coaches to retrain our coaches. Their methods are archaic for a game that is dynamic. The rules of basketball change by the day and except our coaches are shown how matches are read they would continue to increase our pain with myopic decisions on the court.
It hurts that the Nigeria side that has collegiate students in the US and some others who play in the reputable NBA won’t be in Portugal for the World Championships. We cannot continue with this trend. It must change.
Welcome Robinson Okosun
Psychologist Robinson Okosun returns to the Super Eagles after being dropped due to paucity of cash in the NFF. At that time, the body’s president, Aminu Maigari, promised to return to the status quo when its finances improve.
Now that Okosun is back, one only hopes that he concentrates on his job. The players spoke glowingly about his contributions in lifting their spirit, especially before the quarter-finals game against Cote d’Ivoire.
I had written about the need for Okosun’s return, largely from the perspective of his being knowledgeable. The Eagles would have been the only team in the world without a psychologist.
Maybe soon, Coach Silvanus Okpala would rejoin the team. It is a possibility and I look forward to it. Welcome Okosun.
