The Former Coach of the Super Eagles |Stephen Keshi| has thrown a parting shot at Nigerian
football, saying the country should stop seeing itself as a serious football nation considering it
is still lagging behind in many vital areas needed to attain such levels.
In a chat with ESPN football pundit Colin Udoh, the former Togo and former Mali manager noted,
for instance, that but for his intervention, the Akwa Ibom State governor was planning to lay
artificial grass on the newly built world-class Uyo Stadium. That venue will host the decisive
clash of the Super Eagles with South Africa next month.
“How many good pitches do we have in this country? Keshi queried. We say we are a football
nation and we don't even have good training pitches for the national team, or good field to play
on. Instead, there are artificial pitches everywhere, even the new Stadium in Uyo, it was when I
heard from the governor that they wanted to use artificial pitch that I had to shout and tell him no
way. That is how they used natural grass pitch there. But why should I be the one to say it? Where
are the journalists?”
He said he was proud of his achievements during his spell as Nigeria’s manager.
“People keep saying I drew a lot of matches. But how many Nigerian coaches agreed to play
friendly matches all the time. Or to use home-based players without fear but people don't see that.
Every time it's Keshi this and Keshi that. Then they say I always try to use the President against
them. President that I cannot even see!”
He also said he was happy that the drama was finally over, as was his family.
“I am not bitter. I'm just disappointed in some of you,” he pointed out, referring to journalists.
“Now people can stop talking about Keshi.”
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Football Association, responding to reports that Keshi would be in the
country this week to finalise a contract to take over their National team, has denied ever
approaching Keshi or getting any application from him
football, saying the country should stop seeing itself as a serious football nation considering it
is still lagging behind in many vital areas needed to attain such levels.
In a chat with ESPN football pundit Colin Udoh, the former Togo and former Mali manager noted,
for instance, that but for his intervention, the Akwa Ibom State governor was planning to lay
artificial grass on the newly built world-class Uyo Stadium. That venue will host the decisive
clash of the Super Eagles with South Africa next month.
“How many good pitches do we have in this country? Keshi queried. We say we are a football
nation and we don't even have good training pitches for the national team, or good field to play
on. Instead, there are artificial pitches everywhere, even the new Stadium in Uyo, it was when I
heard from the governor that they wanted to use artificial pitch that I had to shout and tell him no
way. That is how they used natural grass pitch there. But why should I be the one to say it? Where
are the journalists?”
He said he was proud of his achievements during his spell as Nigeria’s manager.
“People keep saying I drew a lot of matches. But how many Nigerian coaches agreed to play
friendly matches all the time. Or to use home-based players without fear but people don't see that.
Every time it's Keshi this and Keshi that. Then they say I always try to use the President against
them. President that I cannot even see!”
He also said he was happy that the drama was finally over, as was his family.
“I am not bitter. I'm just disappointed in some of you,” he pointed out, referring to journalists.
“Now people can stop talking about Keshi.”
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Football Association, responding to reports that Keshi would be in the
country this week to finalise a contract to take over their National team, has denied ever
approaching Keshi or getting any application from him
0 comments: