The Nation Newspaper

Tag: keshi

  • Keshi to pay coach’s salary

    Keshi to pay coach’s salary

    Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi has opted to pay his Togolese assistant Valere Houandinou, who was affected by a backroom shake-up.

    Valere, who also worked with Keshi to qualify Togo to the 2006 World Cup, was laid off by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recently for lack of funds.

    “Keshi has decided to shoulder the burden of paying Valere’s salary after the NFF said it was running low on funds to carry the huge wage bill of the Super Eagles,” Keshi’s brother and manager, Emmanuel Keshi confirmed to MTNFootball.com.

    “The decision by the big boss is to support the NFF through these difficult times because President Aminu Maigari is a good man who has been very sincere and supportive in ensuring that the Eagles succeed.

    “As part of the efforts towards moving forward, Keshi has resolved to use his goodwill for the NFF, remember President Goodluck Jonathan gave him a blank cheque upon his return from South Africa, Keshi intends to cash that cheque now by appealing to the President to support the NFF.

    “You would agree with me that the burden on the NFF is huge, the U17, U20 and Super Eagles all preparing at the same time.”

  • Keshi dismisses rise in ranking

    Keshi dismisses rise in ranking

    Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi says he’s not moved by Super Eagles’ latest rise in the monthly FIFA rankings.

    Nigeria moved up three places in the latest rankings released on Wednesday after climbing up three places. While Keshi admits that it’s good news, he, however, revealed that a rise in the rankings is not the most important thing in his agenda as he continues his rebuilding process with the national.

    “If Nigerians are happy with the rise in the rankings, then I am also happy with that too but to be perfectly honest with you, that’s not what I am most concerned about. I am concerned about providing things that Nigerians will be happy about,” Keshi exclusively told supersport.com on Wednesday.

    The gaffer revealed that he has trained his sights on getting “decent results” in the upcoming 2014 FIFAWorld Cup qualifiers away to Kenya and Namibia in June as well as the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    “Right now, I am focused on the upcoming friendly against Mexico and more importantly, the games against Namibia and Kenya next month. Also, the big one in Brazil; (the FIFA Confederations Cup) where we will meet some of the best teams in the world.

    Victories in the matches we will play in the coming days will make Nigerians happier.

    “As for the FIFA rankings, I don’t know how FIFA determines the system but like I said, if Nigerians are happy, then I am too,” he stressed.

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles are now ranked 28th in the world, 4th in Africa after amassing 780 points in the latest rankings.

  • Keshi lives in a hostile environment

    Keshi lives in a hostile environment

    Former head coach of the Nigeria national team, Samson Siasia believes current gaffer of the team, Stephen Keshi deserves commendation following the “good job” he has done since taking the reins.

    Keshi replaced Siasia as Nigeria coach in 2011 after the latter failed to guide the Super Eagles to the finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

    “Keshi has done a very good job under the circumstances because the job of Super Eagles coach is a very difficult one. He did what I didn’t do. He qualified Nigeria for the (2013) Nations Cup and also led the team to the title so he has done very well,” Siasia told supersport.com.

    As the Super Eagles prepare for a busy programme in June that will include two 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in Kenya and Namibia as well as the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, Siasia warned that Keshi’s big moment at the 2013 Afcon could soon be forgotten if he does not continue to record success on a consistent basis.

    “Keshi lives and works in a hostile environment where the expectations are always high. He was almost fired before he won the Nations Cup title. The coach is not a magician that can continue to win everyday. He still needs time to build an even stronger team,” he added.

    Keshi has recently come under the spotlight after seemingly falling out with several of his playing personnel like Emmanuel Emenike and captain, Joseph Yobo who was subsequently omitted from the Nigeria squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

    Siasia, who also fell out with several top players like Vincent Enyeama and Peter Odemwingie during his time at the helm, says Keshi must tread carefully as it concerns dealing with the individuals.

    “Players of the Super Eagles can be extremely difficult to manage so a coach needs to be very careful and must handle things right. Good players make for good coaches. If a coach does not have good players, he can’t do a thing.

    “Even the great Jose Mourinho will not look like a good coach if he goes to manager Reading in the Premier League because of the quality of players he will have to work with,” Siasia concluded

  • KESHI: I wish I had Alaba

    KESHI: I wish I had Alaba

    Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi has described David Alaba of Bayern Munich as a very brilliant player that would have been a boost to his team, if he was eligible to play for Nigeria.

    According to the Big Boss, the high work rate of the player is an asset to any team that has him.

    He said: “I am in love with that young man David Alaba of Bayern Munich. He is very intelligent, mobile with great work rate and strong. The best of it all is that he can perform various roles as a player.

    “That is a great quality. I would have loved to have him in my team; but now, he is not eligible to play for us. We should continue to wish him well in his career”.

    The former international congratulated Bayern Munich for qualifying for the finals of the European Champions League, saying they have justified their high rating in Europe.

  • CROWDED JUNE FIXTURES: Keshi contacts invited Eagles stars

    CROWDED JUNE FIXTURES: Keshi contacts invited Eagles stars

    Expected in Nigeria on April 30

    Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has confirmed to SportingLife that he has contacted all the 30 invited players for the jam-packed June match fixtures begining with the international friendly against Mexico on May 26.

    Keshi, spoke from Califonia on Tuesday, said though he is in the United States to see his family, he is also working to see that all the invited players are in the right frame of mind to prosecute the daunting tasks ahead. According to him, ‘All the players have promised their loyalty, and will strive to ensure that they play well to win all their matches especially the World Cup qualifiers.”

    He maintained that there is no problem whatsoever with chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stressing that: “The NFF are my employers, I owe them all allegiance. There is no cause for alarm. Whatever difference would be sorted out. We all want to build a formidable Super Eagles team.”

    He confirmed to SportingLife that he would arrive the country on 30th April to begin preparation with the home-based players.

  • YOBO EXPLODES! I won’t beg Keshi

    YOBO EXPLODES! I won’t beg Keshi

    Says no big deal playing for Eagles lWants to face  club career lDenies targeting 100 caps for Nigeria

     

    Fenerbache of Turkey’s reliable defender Joseph yobo has vowed not to apologise to Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi over his ourburst insisting that: “I did nothing worng in telling the coach how I felt about being dropped without notice.”

    Disclosing this to SportingLife from his base in Turkey on Monday evening, Yobo stated that he stood by all that he said about the coach pointing out that Keshi is at liberty to invite him or not to the team.

    “I have seen it all in the Super Eagles. 96 caps is not a child’s play. I have played under different coaches and not one of them has tagged me as an undisciplined player. Keshi knows why he dropped me. It is certainly not because of my form. At the appropriate time, I will let Nigerians know the truth. Trust me.

    “For anyone to say that I am ready to beg Keshi, is a lie from the pit of hell. I kept quiet because the honourable Sports Minister intervened and the NFF president and Barrister Chris Green called me to a ceasefire. What I did in South Africa brought peace among us. We were united in the team after I intervened. We played badly in our first two matches and I told the coaches so. I made suggestions and got the players to queue behind me. Today, we are all celebrating. Is it not good? Yet, I am being made to pay the price. It is okay by me. I will never apologise to Keshi because I didn’t insult him. I only said that it was disrespectful that he could not call me to say that I won’t be part of the game against Kenya.

    “It is also not true that Keshi and I discussed anything about my future in the Eagles. How many times did we talk abut the team? He didn’t say anyhting to me during the competition. Is it after the compettiion that he would talk to me? Who does he talk to about the team? I must state here that God has beeen very kind to me by allowing me to reach the 96 caps point. I’m grateful. I’m not targting any record. If it is God’s wish that I reach the 100 caps, it would be done by his grace.

    “At the moment, I am focusing on my club. I do not want to be a distraction to the Eagles. I called the boys before the Kenya game to wish them well. I’m stil their captain. they know why I was dropped. I wish Nigeria well all the time because I owe whatever I’m today to playing for Nigeria across the age grade teams,” Yobo said.

  • Keshi committed to Eagles-Ado

    Keshi committed to Eagles-Ado

    Media man of Super Eagles Chief Coach Emmanuel Ado has stated categorically that Stephen Keshi would not dump the team as he remains committed to taking the team to new heights.

    “I have the authority of Mr. Stephen Keshi CON, the national head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria to issue this statement.

    “1. to assure most especially the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria of Nigeria, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan, the President of the Federation Alhaji Aminu Maigari, and indeed the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), and football loving Nigerians that I have no intention whatsoever to resign my job with the Federation.

    “2. That media reports to that effect, is the work of persons who “enjoy and profit’” from crisis. The intention of these “merchants of lies” is to continue to cause disaffection between me and the Federation. That the intention of those behind the report is “continued relevance” and to paint the Federation and myself in bad light.

    “3. I want to restate that the president Alhaji Aminu Maigari, remains the father of the team, and that he has been a partner in progress. What we achieved so far is due to his support. We appreciate this huge support, and we continue to count on his support.

    “4. That Nigeria winning the African Cup of Nations is now history. The urgent task at hand is to qualify for the 2014 World Cup taking place in Brazil.

    “5. Finally, I call on all the media most especially to report facts and to learn to support the team.”

  • BOMBSHELL! Keshi may dump Eagles again

    BOMBSHELL! Keshi may dump Eagles again

    Sportinglife can reveal exclusively today that Nigeria’s senior team’s chief coach Stephen Keshi may dump the Super Eagles coaching job, if feelers from the tactician’s linksman are to be taken seriously.

    A topdog of the federation squealed to SportingLife on telephone on Sunday that the coach’s linksman spent over one hour discussing his client’s future with the Super Eagles and submitted that: ” He said that if NFF men were not prepared to work with Keshi under the terms agreed in their conract, the NFF can as well terminate the deal. Otherwise, the coach may be froced to throw in the towel since he is not getting sufficient support from the federation.

    “The agent also complained that Keshi has been calling the federation’s president from California in the United States and he has not been picking the calls. This same man told me that the coach has been calling me and I didn’t pick. But I asked him why I picked his calls each time he called. He kept mute.

    “Of course, I didn’t say a word to him apart from when I challenged him that I always pick his calls and that if I see the coach’s call, I will return it.”

    Asked what the federation would do in the event that Keshi tenders his letter of resignation next week as stated by his agent, the NFF chief said: “Let me borrow your favourite phrase, I no know book. You can as well get in touch with the federation’s president, he alone can talk on this issue.”

  • SUPER EAGLES JOB Maigari took a risk hiring me —Keshi

    SUPER EAGLES JOB Maigari took a risk hiring me —Keshi

    STEPHEN Keshi has admitted that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) boss, Aminu Maigari took a risk appointing him as Super Eagles coach.

    The AFCON 2013 winning coach revealed this when he was presented with a Range Rover and Toyota Camry promised him by Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr), GCON on Monday.

    “Maigari took a risk asking me to come back to Nigeria to take charge of the Super Eagles. He told me confidently that I should come and take charge of the team, that he had belief in me.

    “Nobody gave me an atom of confidence that any Nigerian or a ‘black man’ so to speak can coach the Eagles let alone guiding the team to win the Nations Cup in South Africa.

    “I also want to thank him and the NFF for their support too during the AFCON.”

    The Big Boss then fingered a section of the press for the sour relationship between the Glass House and him.

    “Before the Cup of Nations, during and after, my relationship with Maigari and the NFF has been very cordial.

    “The recent fuss is being caused by bad press, as the speculations almost tore us apart. But I would have thought that we should be partners in progress as regards the new status of the Super Eagles who are current African champions,” he said.

     

  • Nigeria FA back Keshi call-ups

    Nigeria FA back Keshi call-ups

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have thrown their weight behind coach Stephen Keshi over his call-ups.

    Keshi has come under criticisms by some big players of the Super Eagles following their exclusion from the Eagles last World Cup qualifier against Kenya.

    Skipper Joseph Yobo have openly criticised the coach for leaving him out of the team after the 2013 AFCON feat in South Africa.

    “We appointed Keshi for the Super Eagles job and we have resolved to give him a free hand to pick the players he deems fit to prosecute matches and thus far his selections have produced results,” a top NFF official stated.

    The NFF technical committee have been mandated to mediate in a presumed looming dressing room crisis involving coach Keshi and his players.

    “We are going to look at the issues objectively. A coach is a coach and is in charge of the team and can decide the players who could best play a game for him.” NFF technical committee chairman Chris Green told MTNFootball.com.

    “However, when players begin to complain and senior players for that matter, there is need for us mediate because the team can only achieve more when they are united. I remember how we resolved the issue of former coach Samson Siasia and Osaze Odemwingie.”

    He added: “Our concern is not to fan the ego of anyone, but for peace to reign in the Eagles. We appointed Keshi for this job and we believe in his ability, therefore we must do everything to make sure his job is easy and void of whatever distraction,” Green added.

    He also hinted that his committee which is expected to meet today in Abuja would look beyond the Keshi vs Yobo issue.

    “It’s not just the current issue between Keshi and Yobo, we are going to evolve a holistic approach to address other issues raised by other players. These players are Nigerians and have served the country and we don’t want them feeling they have been abandoned. Even if it would take us visiting these players in their clubs, we would do so.”

    Osaze Odemwingie, Emmanuel Emenike, Danny Shittu and very recently Joseph Yobo have complained of been abandoned by the national team.