How time flies. It’s almost looking like yesterday, yet 12 years have rolled by. He had been invited to partner Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere to guide the Super Eagles to lift the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, which Nigeria and Ghana co-hosted. In fact, the National Stadium main bowl in Lagos broke into a frenzy when Stephen Keshi emerged from the tunnel with his traditional salute.
This time, he wasn’t holding the ball nor was he punching the air and pulling his tug to signify his readiness for the impending game. He had deliberately delayed his appearance to test his popularity. Where I sat, I told my friends that the Keshi/Bonfrere combo was another anarchy that would further disintegrate the Eagles and pave the way for the Dutchman’s exit. They dismissed my view. I kept quiet since the future was just around the corner. Here is it today. How prophetic I was.
For most Nigerians and, indeed, watchers of the beautiful game, the Bonfrere/ Keshi’ combo was the dream technical crew. That combination was all that the Eagles needed to lift the Africa Cup of Nations. But alas, it never happened. Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions nicked in a nail-biting final game that ended in penalties.
Please, don’t remind me of Victor Ikpeba’s kick and the guilt he felt, putting his hands on his head. If he had worn a straight face or jubilated a little, perhaps, the referee would have had a second thought and awarded us the goal. It would have changed the trend of the game. But all these are in the past since Nigeria settled for the silver. Cameroon went home with the trophy. But dear reader, this is not the reason for this article.
Things later turned awry between Bonfrere and Keshi. This combination was a time-bomb that was bound to blow the weaker person away, but our narrow minded officials lacked the foresight to envisage it. They always play to the gallery. For the Nigerian administrator, the quick fix therapy is the best for our problems since it leaves the cancer unhealed for “chop- chop” in the future.
Bonfrere knew that with Keshi, he stood no chance with the players. The Dutch wanted to be the Sherriff. In doing so, the Big Boss had to be swept aside. Keshi lost the plot to remain in the Eagles. Our gullible officials demoted the Big Boss to the Flying Eagles with a big nomenclature of technical adviser.
Keshi wasn’t fooled by the title. He took the job. Yet, he knew he belonged to the Super Eagles, having been drawn away from California to change the team’s fortunes.
Let me not bore you with details. Bonfrere lost the Eagles job and Shaiubu Amodu wiped shame from the Big Boss’ face by making him the deputy. Together they salvaged Nigeria’s pride by qualifying the country for the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup. The troika (Amodu, Keshi and Joe Erico) didn’t attend the competition, having being sacked in controversial circumstances. I digress!
Back to the discussion. At that time, the Eagles were training in Ota, this time with Keshi as flying Eagles technical adviser. Newshounds stormed Ota to get juicy stories. It was quite a pitiable sight watching Keshi from the fence follow the Eagles’ sessions like journalists. The players knew that the former captain was around. They couldn’t greet him like they would have wished. But it was Keshi who felt the pain most. This writer had the privilege to ride with the Big Boss back to Lagos. He wished the team well but he nursed a grudge.
As the journey continued, I told him he would coach the Eagles. He just had to manage teams outside Nigeria for him to be better appreciated. I reminded him about the story of his sojourn at Stella FC of Abidjan and how that suspension changed his life and, indeed, his career. Every disappointment is a blessing, this writer reminded the Big Boss.
Shocked, Keshi turned, (he sat in front) and said: “Oh boy, na big talk be that o! I don dey get offers. But I believe say na Eagles go better pass. As I dey talk with you, Togo wan make I come. I go try there.
As Keshi dropped me where I parked my car, the big scoop as I got to the office was: Keshi gets Togo’s job.
My colleagues sneered at the story describ ing it as another public relations stunt. They said so in whispers, but I couldn’t be bothered. Didn’t Keshi call the Togolese president to accept the job? Months later, the story was carried by the international media and my colleagues looked at me in awe.
I lost touch with Keshi because he left immediately to take the Togolese job. Need I tell the story? Nor do I need to reel out what happened to Keshi in Mali?
I have gone through the memory lane to situate my relationship with Keshi. Hence, one wants to plead with him that the future that I foretold is here. As I said then, his problem won’t be the absence of quality players but how to blend them. He told me then that he would be fair in his selection and that only the best would make his list. I ask: Keshi, do you still hold this principle to heart like you did in 2001?
Again, I asked Keshi then if he had the guts to ward off foreign agents or their cohorts in picking his players. He said coaches fell for such poisoned chalice because of the lure of foreign currencies.
Pointedly, Keshi asked, “do you know how much I’m worth in any known currency in all modesty?” I have seen money. I have flown in many club presidents’ private jets as a player. I’m also not reckless with earnings. So, who is that agent and how much does he have? That agent could be a former player or manager. Please, I have made my mark in Europe to fall for peanuts. I ask Keshi again, “do I still trust you to shun agents when picking Nigeria’s 23-man squad to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations?”
The journey through the gridlock from Ota provided the proper setting. I also asked Keshi what he would do to players who feign injury and those who hide them to earn call ups. Keshi said: “If I take my players through callisthenic exercises, I will know each one’s injury problems. I played the game under renowned physiotherapists and I know what they did and how they discovered injured players. As for those who dodge national calls, it won’t happen because Nigeria is blessed with at least six players per position. Besides, I will develop a good relationship with my players. I will talk to them at home and ask questions about their welfare. I did that as the team’s former captain, so I know what I’m talking about. The Big Boss tag didn’t come because of any mafia setting in the Eagles. I led by example and the players trusted me.
“Let me give you this example. Before the final qualifier against Algeria in Algiers, I summoned all the players to my room. I laid down the jerseys on the bed. I told them that we needed to fight the Algerians to get the ticket. I warned anyone who wasn’t ready to fight not to pick the jersey. It was a soul-searching session. I tell you, the first person to pick the jersey was Rashidi Yekini. The next was Daniel Amokachi and I have since loved both players, even as a coach.”
Asked if he was a trained coach, his countenance changed, but Keshi broke into a smile and said: “my brother, I have served coaches and played as captain for most of the clubs I played for. I know what to tell the boys, how to prepare them for games and know what do to change the course of matches. Aside, I will go for coaching courses because I know that the game is dynamic. But note that football is more of practical than grammar. When I get to that bridge, I will cross it.”
I asked Keshi what transpired in the Seyi Adebayor saga and his reply confirms all that has happened to Adebayor with renowned managers such as Arsene Wenger, Roberto Manicini, Jose Mourinho and even with Harry Redknapp until he renewed his contract at Tottenham.
Put simply, Keshi said that Adebayour was undisciplined. Adebayor’s talk about Keshi wanting to share from his transfer fees to Arsenal, Keshi said, was cheap blackmail.
Perhaps this story told by Aisha Falode about what she saw with the Malian side after their crash from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations will suffice. Ma soro ju, like Aisha loves to address me, “I saw the big boys in the Malian side, Kanoute, Keita, name them, plead and some shed tears to try and convince Keshi to stay. But Keshi told them he was through with the job and needed fresh challenges.”
Dear Keshi, your story is sweet, but it could turn sour, if the Eagles fail to fly in South Africa in January. Nigerians are bad losers. They want the Eagles to win every game convincingly. Shuaibu Amodu won matches, yet our administrators organised interview sessions with foreign coaches in the hotel where the Eagles stayed in 2010. The Eagles were still in the tournament. That is how wicked the Nigerian is with the Eagles.
Should Keshi panic and press the distress button? Not necessarily; all he needs is to open his eyes and pick the best. He must be at his wits’ end to read games properly and make prompt substitutions.
Keshi, this Eagles job is your life. Make it or mar it in South Africa. Good luck!
