Saturday, November 1, 2014

#nomofosdotcom Ex-Footballers Speak On Keshi’s Return

Barely 48 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan reinstatement Stephen Keshi as the head coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles, many football fans, ex-players and football administrators have been expressing mixed feelings on the matter.
Some of concerned Nigerians who spoke with our reporter in Lagos stated that in as much as Keshi produces the desired result with the national team that they are less bothered with his comeback.
It would be recalled that the former coach of Mali and Togo was relieved of his dutyas the Eagles'coach after he led the Nigerian team to a 3-1 victory against the Falcons of Sudanin qualifiers for the 2015 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, played at the Abuja National stadium on 15 October.
According to the president of the football house, Amanju Pinnick, Amodu was to take charge of the last two qualifiers against Congo and South Africa before a permanent coach would be hired to coach the Eagles.
Speaking on the recall of Keshi by reportedly President Jonathan, an ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju stated that the intervention of the president was handy at such a time when the world football governing body, FIFA, is still dangling its hammer on the country's football.
The midfielder, fondly referred to as 'the Headmaster' noted that,"there's no big deal with the intervention of the president because I believe it is the situation at hand that has called for that.
"If we put our acts together, we can get everything right with the remaining matches.
"If we win our last two matches and pray for slip ups elsewhere, then we are good to go."
Speaking in the same vein, another ex-Eagle, Henry Nwosu (MON), described the recall of Keshi as a good development for the country's football.
Nwosu added that:"It was the best decision at this stage of the competition because bringing someone else in would mean that they will have to start afresh and with two matches to go, I don't think that would be healthy for us.
"If even we do not like him, he is in the best position to continue with what he started and I believe that we can scale the hurdle irrespective of the challenges."
Also commenting on the development, former Green Eagles defender, who now works as a sport administrator, Yisa Shofoluwe, explained that bringing another coach to replace Keshi would have all but confirmed Nigeria's absence at the 2015 AFCON.
"If Keshi would be fired, it shouldn't be before the end of the qualifying series,"Shofoluwe said.
The petite-seized coach added:"One, it will be bad for the morale of the players, then, with two matches to go, a new coach would have introduced new tactics which is likely to destabilise the team.
"If you watched the last match the Eagles played, you would discover that the players were all running towards the coach that is to show you how much support he enjoys from them.
"The players will be unhappy if Keshi leaves at this stage, so, it is not a bad idea at all. Mr. President has done a good thing for our football."
However, despite the commendations from many Nigerians over Keshi's reinstatement, former Eagles' striker, Jonathan Akpoborie, believes that it was inappropriate for the country's president to determine who would coach the Super Eagles.
Akpoborie, who is not unfamiliar with controversial talks, in a chat on twitter, disclosed that having our president choose whom to coach the national football side is a downward development for our sport.
He argued that the president would have allowed the FIFA hammer come on the country to make sure everybody sits up and face real business.
He said,"when the president is picking our coach, is that an improvement to you? My brother, we need the ban to shake off some hoodlums posing as kings over football matters in this country".
Meanwhile, Keshi has begun work with the Super Eagles as he has invited 25 playersfor the crucial qualifiers against Congo and South Africa coming up in November.
The major surprise call up in the list of invited players is Villareal of Spain striker, Ike Uche, who has not played for the national for almost two years.

Source: naij

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