Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, was honoured by Nigeria business man and Fashion guru, Chief Executive Officer of Mudi Africa, Clement Mudiaga Enajemo. The former Super Eagle skipper was last week Wednesday hosted to an exclusive dinner and award. Keshi came in with his team, Assistant Coaches, Daniel Amokachi and Valere Houandinou and Goal Keeper Trainer, Ike Shorumu. The event held at Mudi Africa House, Anthony, Lagos.
By: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL.
SUPER EAGLES coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has been named the 24th best national team coach in the world by The Institute of Football Coaching and Statistics. The listing, which is the latest by the body, also named the Head coach of Ghana Black Stars James Kwesi Appiah in the 42nd position.
The coach of the Spanish national team, Vincente Del Bosque tops the list with 25188 points followed by Germany Joachim Low with 21422 points.
Oscar Tabarez of Uruguay placed 3rd, Italy Ceasre Prandelli came fourth, Netherlands Van Marwijk 5th, Jurgen Klinsmann 6th , Poalo Jorge Gomes of Portugal 7th.
•Igesund concedes supremacy
•Team resumes training
Despite Super Eagles outstanding display against Bafana Bafana in their final group game on Sunday night, Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, says the team is still work in progress but expressed happiness that the players are finally playing to his instructions.
“The magic was that we simply asked the boys to go out there and play their game without pressure, enjoy your game and be yourself and I think they got that right perfectly against a very difficult opponent”. He also has harsh words for critics of some of his players, declaring that no one is perfect but we have to work on our imperfections to reach our goals. He was referring to the criticisms of first choice goalkeeper and captain, Chigozie Agbim.
On his part, South African Coach, Gordon Igesund, praised the Super Eagles and attributed the success of the team to thier strenth. “We have no excuses to give here, we simply lost to a better team and we don’t deserve to win today. I must congratulate Stephen Keshi and his team”, he declared on Sunday night.
He also said he expects the South African Football Association (SAFA), to allow him continue in his post because the team has really grown under him. Reeling out statistics, Igesund says under him the team has played 28 matches and scored 40 goals against some of the best national teams in the world including a defeat of reigning world champions Spain. “I am happy with these results and I hope I am allowed to continue to do my job with SAFA”, he said.
The Super Eagles will meanwhile take no break as they continue preparations for their quarter final game on Saturday in Cape Town. The team will train at 5pm local time, which is 4pm Nigerian time for now until a fresh training schedule is out.
SIR: ‘Those whose palm kernels have been broken for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble’ goes an Igbo adage which was the beginning of the downfall of Okonkwo, the hero of Chinua Achebe’s best seller and evergreen classic ‘Things Fall Apart.’ Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi’s recent utterance that Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi should not go about embarrassing his employers by publicly complaining about the non-payment of his seven months’ salary is the apogee of insensitivity, arrogance, perfidy and wickedness.
Is the Honourable Minister being owed even a month’s salary? For a man who lifted the Nations Cup as both a player and coach, this is the height of a lack of appreciation and ingratitude. It brings to the fore a fundamental problem in the country. Nigerians are used to taking nonsense from their leaders in the name of maintaining the peace. We are discouraged from fighting for our God-given rights by even people you should expect to lead the vanguard for positive change. Activists are dismissed as mere agitators and rabble rousers because they choose to stand out from the crowd of cowards and coerced pacifists. It is not in our culture to demand accountability from those we entrust with taxpayers’ money to deliver the goods on our behalf.
Shouldn’t the man be entitled to his legitimate pay? Should he not cry out when there is a breach of contract?
When the scandal first broke out, we didn’t hear a word from the minister’s office. In a decent clime, the legislature would have had him summoned to explain why a national hero should be allowed to starve in the name of national service. The public would have called for his head since football is the only thing apart from religion that binds the nation together.
Abdullahi owes justice-loving Nigerians an apology for this statement that is capable of inducing corruption and reducing the dignity of man. Would it be good for the country’s image if Keshi is turned to a mendicant surviving on the mercies of the wealthy players? How would discipline in the team be maintained? How would he be able to look them in the eye and still command their respect? His feat in qualifying the nation for the World Cup should be followed up by prompt payment of his salary arrears as the nation has more than enough to pay him. He is not asking for the moon!
• Sola Ademiluyi
Lagos.