Stephen Keshi’s Parting Shot: Nigeria ‘is Not Serious Football Country’
Category: Sports News
Former Super Eagles
manager 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 finalize a contract to
take over their National team, has denied ever approaching Keshi or
getting any application from him.
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