Skipper Joseph Yobo has said that Coach Stephen Keshi cannot make him a part-time player in the Super Eagles. He opens up a can of worms in this interview.

We learnt that you were not happy that you were not fielded in the last game against Kenya. What really happened?

Before people get it twisted, I said and I repeat that nobody communicated with me that I was not going to play against kenya. Nobody communicated to me at all. This is not about Joseph Yobo. This is about the position of the captain of the national team and there should be respect for that position.

There are so many things that happened that I was not happy with but I chose to keep quiet. But I am keeping all that for my documentary. I have been to many Nations Cup and played for over a decade and a lot of things have happened. A lot of things happened at the Nations Cup and I did not talk about them.

When it happened again and I did not get a phone call, I was like saying to myself , here we go again. It is not like I have not experienced such before , I have, but if it keeps coming, there is only so much that I can take and I had to put things straight.

I am not interested in making trouble with anybody but right now, I’m only speaking out because I have had enough.

The coach, Keshi, said that after the Nations Cup in South Africa, that he had a meeting with you and told you that in subsequent matches that he was going to be calling you for some while leaving you out of others. Is it true?

There is absolutely no truth in that statement. After the Nations Cup, he did not call me to say that some games I will play and some games, I would not play. It is absolutely untrue.

I am on top of my game right now, I am a top of my career and I am playing in the Europa Cup. If I’m not that good, I won’t be playing in this competition. This is not about football. This is about principles. Why is Keshi trying to make a part-time player.? If that is his decision, fine but I won’t accept and respect that decision, but if he feels that he does not need me and he tells me that, I would respect that decision. But to say that he called to inform me of his plans, no that is not true.

[size=13pt]I cannot agree to be a part-time player for the national team. If I’m not fit to play or good enough to play, I personally would opt out. I have a reputation to protect. Nigeria is so huge , we have so much talents and as a player, its difficult to come out there and put your head out for competition. So if I am not ready and fit enough, I would say it myself.[/size]

When you saw this, did you bother to call the coach to clear the air?

No, I feel and believe that the coach as the leader, should be able to call his players.

Vincent Enyeama said that you are still the captain of the team but the coach thinks otherwise, so don’t you see a crisis in the team?

In the Super Eagles, to tell you the truth, a lot of things happened in the team that people don’t know about. Players go through a lot, we make a lot of sacrifice but when something goes wrong a bit, we get crucified, even when we are not at fault. A lot of things happened at the Nations Cup in South Africa. A lot of things also happened at our Faro camp, which people don’t know. But because we are adults, we keep these things to ourselves. These things are not good at all but we allow things to lie low.

Communication seems to be a big problem in the Super Eagles. First, Osaze complained, then Emenike also complained and now you are coming out to complain. Everybody blamed Osaze for his twitter rage but what do you think is going on.

There is absolutely a communication breakdown in the national team. If you are in a position of authority, you have to take all the responsibilities. A lot of things go wrong in the national team and that’s it. All the time, they seem to sideline the players. Players are supposed to be communicated with, especially after a massive event.

They need to ask how we are getting on in our clubs, has your injury healed, what is going on with your wife but these things do not happen. We go back to our clubs, we do not hear from them. We are like children and we also have children, who look up to us. Can they do so to their children? As I said, there is a real communication breakdown in the Eagles.

Can you let Nigerians know some of the problems that happened in faro first and the Nations Cup because if you want to solve a problem, you need to know what the problems are.

As I said, it’s a lot of and I am saving them for my documentary. We won the Nations Cup, everybody participated to make it a success. The coaches played their roles, the backroom staff also did theirs, the NFF played their roles and the players also contributed their quota.

As the captain, I never thought I would go through the things that I went through to be able to put the team together. A lot of things happened but we had to put them aside so that we can achieve the victory in South Africa.

But people have forgotten that it was not done by one person. I have sacrificed and I do not want to see what I am
not supposed to see. This is my stand. The position of the captain should be respected and I am saying this because of the future. It is not about playing because players feel disrespected and ignored if they are not communicated with.

Is it true that you had a disagreement with Amokachi? What is the problem between you and Amokachi

I did not say there is a problem. You are telling me that but as I said , when the right time comes, I will talk. One thing I know is that I will always stand for the truth. I really do not care about the consequences and who is offended. If they say I should say the truth, I will always say the truth. I have never disrespected anybody in my career. In my 13 years of professional career, they have never fined me for a day , so that tells you the type of person that I am. So when I speak up, people should understand where I am coming from.

Is it true that you disagreed and made them to share money across board with everybody at the Nations Cup.

Yes, I think it was with some bonuses . These were incentives that were not part of the official NFF bonus. When incentives come like that, as the captain of the team, I approach the coaching crew and I think it was wise for me to do it.

Even for the backroom staff, who people did not see but they put in a lot of efforts for us to achieve what we did at the Nations Cup. So it was wise for us to share it equally, even if, it meant that I will take the least, because we are like a family and we are building a team spirit.

Some of the things you are saying now are so similar to what Osaze said, initially though, you said then that he was childish

Osaze is a wonderful person. We spoke recently. I just thought that Osaze presented his case probably at the wrong time and the wrong way. Yes, certain things that he said are true. Before the away game in Liberia, I called Osaze to let him know that I was aware of certain things which were not going well in the national team but told him that I needed his support as a senior player, we need him and his experience to build this team together. Some of the things he said are very right but like I said, we need to stick together.

His thoughts about Osaze activism on social media - twitter?

I think that he likes it of that is one of his hobbies. But I do not like it and do not have a twitter account because if I go on social media, I have a lot of things to say that would shock people

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/joseph-yobo-uncensored-i-cant-be-a-part-time-eagles-player/

on top of your game? Com'on! Spare me that crap...... I feel for you though. Coz i remember how much sacrifice you've paid in the past.... So sad that Age is something we must come to terms with.....

Whao! Just whao...it's quite revealing! Wish the moderator would edit this post for you and put it on frontpage. More people should read this. Guess Yobo should not have called Osaze childish afterall. And about the saying that he is on top of his game.Abeggi. We no want. We value and appreciated his service while it lasted, now is the time to quit. When you're no longer needed in a place, it's just good to quit. Please quit!

Dis is unacceptable from a national team captain.
Can he try dis at his club?

Osaze has bn proven right in his tweeter rants wrt to yobos captaincy.

Yobo is just a cry baby. He has already admitted he has a reputation to protect, and that's all its about. He's been to many Nations cups, has not won anything with all the "wahala" supposedly.

Now comes Keshi with real "Fresh AIr", and what did Yobo do? He carried the ANC trophy without giving it up to his team mates to share.

Nice one "Captain".

You need to shut up and go into politics. There you can declare you strategy to change Nigeria and lead our long awaited revolution against the polticians and their surrogate pastors and mallams.

Smh

You cannot force ur way into the team like that Yobo.

Make I Hear Word Jor! ! !.On Top Of Your Game Ko Down Of Ur Game Ni. . . .Yobo There Is Time For Everything, A Time To Play For The National Team And A Time To Be Drop If You Refuse To Retire. . .You Are Facing The Later.

Yobo GO AWAY and leave the SE alone. Your era is OVER. People are trying to respect you by easing your departure, yet you still don't get it. Your time is gone. Respect yourself and Go Home!

Yobo ur time is up jor!

Yobo needs to understand that . . .

Players come and players go . . . Captains come and captains go . . . Its the team that remains.

However, I agree with his point that the head should ensure communication with his team. Its his sole responsibility! Most European managers do this. Whenever a 'supposed' top player is not relevant to them, they call you and let you know. "Dude, you are not within my plans for the team"

Thats the way it should be. No dilly-dally.

you're not even qualified to be a part time eagle's player.

Someone should tell yobo to STFU. He was a part time player when we won the nations cup so what is he saying? He should be grateful that he was allowed to lift the cup rather than spewing shyte.

Space booked, be back soon...

Yeah I'm back,

Why do nigerians always criticise their players...
First Osaze
Now Yobo

I love this players

bbpreye.:

Smh

^
Must you quote the whole thing before you shake your useless head?

yobo just shot himself o... Lol...

Huh? Who is Yosef Zobo? Is he that 50years old man that barb mohawk and marry dat yellow geh with boobsi & sweet ice-cream laps?

Make them carry u come make u no release the Cup again abi? Oloshi! See as em dey hug d nations cup give people cup carry em no gree.

So Osaze is right

Lol @ Osaze was right! Yobo don c say 'no conditn de parmanent'

You can't be a part time player but u r now a past time player.

When you play below par and keep making errors that concede us goals, you definitely will be a part player.

why not?

Yobo, we no fit bench omeruo or obaobona for u na. Just respect urself and retire. U try wela and naija appreciate.

So Osaze was right then! Ehen......

Lets all be sincere in making comments. For me,Keshi is very wrong.Truly many Nigerians including me have seen that Yobo is depreciating going by his poor performance in the last AFCON and young players like Kenneth Omeruo and others performed far more than him and are no doubts a good replacement for Yobo.I agreed.Again,i see it that Keshi is finding it difficult to tell Yobo openly to go and rest,ie that he is no longer needed in the SE.He would have summon courage as a man and told him in a respectful way that he is no longer needed as he has found competence replacement for him which i believe most Nigerians will support him(Keshi) because we all see that Omeruo and co are far better than Yobo.If keshi had done it in this mature way,it would have given much respect to Yobo considering his position as Captain of the team.Like i said,i support that Yobo retire from SE,but let it be done with respect and not in a disgraceful way.

errrr, gerrout now,who is beggin you? Lekwanu ifeanyi o?!

Got to understand d part of dem not getting in touch wt player's families,it does mean a lot wen d officials make d welfare of players and their immediate families their concern,evn wen not on national assignment.But I don't agree wt Yobo's over emphasis on him being d captain.Hey,d coach can decide to appoint a new captain anyday,Yobo shd not feel he's captain because of his being d longest serving,its at d discretion of d coach.He is already showing traits of a deficient leadership by going public& thus sowing seeds of enmity within d other players

jim jones: you're not even qualified to be a part time eagle's player.

Naija is a damned country...