Some football administrators and fans alike in Delta have condemned the recent sacking of Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
The NFF announced termination of Keshi’s contract on July 4, citing that he lacked the required commitment to achieve the federation’s objectives as contained in his contract
Some people who spoke on Monday in Asaba said the latest action could portend grave dangers for the stability of the National team.
Edema Fuludu, the Vice-Chairman of the Delta Football Association (DFA) said that although the
NFF might have their reasons to terminate Keshi’s contract, but that the timing was not right and could turnout to be counter-productive.
“This is not the right time to sack the National team coach, most especially as the qualifying matches for next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are ongoing.
“However if the allegation against him proved to be true, it will be regrettable but I want to believe that as a coach, he should realise that he is under a valid contract.
“But I expect the NFF to have realised that the timing is not healthy, especially now that the team was still being re-build,’’ Fuludu said.
Mike Ikeogwu, the Delta State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) said: “It is very disappointing that the NFF is playing politics with the development of our national team.
“I am not surprised because the NFF chairman has never hidden his dislike for Keshi’’.
He cautions: “the NFF should not hire a foreign coach, but rather look inwards and pick another indigenous coach to continue from where Keshi stopped. We should give our coaches a platform to develop their potential’’.
Chike Onuarah, an ex-footballer and Secretary of the Asaba All-Stars football team said: “how do you explain this kind of sacking? Why can’t our football administrators for once take into consideration the interest of football development in our country?
“The unstable management of our team handlers is not good for our football. We are presently playing qualifiers and imagine what impact this removal can have on the players’’.
Uche Obialor, a football player said: “anytime we have an indigenous coach, some football administrators will not rest until the coach is uprooted. They are always pushing for a foreign coach so that they exploit their contract.
“It is not because the coaches are not good enough, but because some selfish elements in our football system are interested in the `chips that fallout out’ from foreign contracts’’.
From Nasarrawa, Uche Nwafor, a trader in Lafia, re-stated: “Keshi is the best man for the job. If he applied for another job, is that a crime?
“If they treat him well, could he have applied? NFF has treated him badly because he did not commit any offence. We need him back to finish the work he started”.
Tony Tsav, another sports enthusiast in Lafia called the sacking of the Eagles helmsman a set up, perfectly executed.
“They never liked him from when he failed to qualify Nigeria for Nations Cup and he too disliked them for the way they treated him. So the whole situation has been `a marriage of convenience’.”
Jamal Audu, a resident of Lafia called the termination of Keshi’s contract, a long-awaited blessing for the Eagles and the Nigerian football as a whole.
“The handwriting has been on the wall since. The man was never committed. From what I heard, it took the former a well-placed person to get him the contract. I am sure nobody will deny the Eagles a fresh start and a new direction’’.
Audu Kazaure, a supporter of Nasarawa United of Lafia said NFF’s dismissal of Keshi was well-deserved and a good response to his reported interest in taking charge of the national team of Cote d’Ivoire while still the head coach of the Eagles.
“Honestly, it is an insult of the highest order if the story is true. It only confirms that the man was never committed to Nigeria but only cared about himself’’.
From Abuja, Godfrey Gaiya, a former Chairman, House Committee on Sports applauded the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for termination of the contract.
Gaiya said in Abuja the action was long overdue. “Keshi’s sack is an action that has been overdue. I am in support of the federation in taking the bold step. The action is just right.
“Anywhere in the world, a coach is only as good as his last match. Before his reappointment, it was on record that in his last 14 matches, Keshi won only three.
“He couldn’t qualify us for the AFCON in Equatorial Guinea. So, if good performance is a yardstick for renewing the contract of a coach, then NFF has no reason to renew his contract,’’ Gaiya said.
“The best way forward is for the NFF to open its eyes and search the best coach for the National team, no matter where the coach is coming from’’.
“We must be able to get the very best like other nations are doing. We must get a coach, who has a lot to offer us and willing to go to any part of Nigeria to scout for talented players.
Source: Vanguard
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