Former Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi has
confirmed Sports Vanguard’s breaking
news on his parting of ways with the
Nigeria Football Federation.
We also told you more than three months
ago that Nigeria Football Federation was
not interested in renewing Keshi’s contract.
Keshi has confirmed all our exclusives in
this interview below.
Nigeriacoach Stephen Keshi talks about
‘resignation’Stephen Keshi has parted
ways with the Nigeria Football
Federation. This is the true situation and
not that the Nigerian coach has resigned.
His contract with the federation ended
with the World Cup and the Federation is
not planning, as we exclusively reported
more than three months ago, to renew
the contract.
Keshi is likely to pick the job he has been
offered by South Africa.
Q: Knowing what you know now, what
would you have done as regards the
preparations of the team before this
World Cup?
A: I would have loved to have had them in
camp a lot earlier. The European season
made a little bit difficult as I did not want
to have only one half of the squad in camp
before the others joined.
We had less than two weeks to perfect our
plans and it showed as it was only when
we got to the tournament that we started
picking up our rhythm. We had only three
friendly matches which are really not
enough to get ready for a tournament like
this. So, those are what I would have liked
to change.
Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi
Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi
Have you really quit your post?
Yes. I have done my bit. I am tired of all the
intrigues and backbiting and insinuations I
get. The criticisms are nothing really
because even siblings criticise each other.
In this job sometimes it goes overboard
and my family and those of my players get
called names.
I have had to tell the players many times to
ignore those criticisms and just focus on
the tasks at hand.
There are many Nigerians who support
you. Many who would like to see you
continue the work you started with the
team. Can you not change your mind for
them?
The same ones who were calling for my
head after the Iran match? That “the
World Cup is too big for Keshi”? I know
there are many who truly support what we
have been trying to do over these past
months but I just cannot continue in this
job anymore.
To start with, my contract ended with the
last match and the Federation never
approached me for a renewal. What does
that say? It says to me I’m not wanted. I
am going to go and rest, spend some time
with my family and then hopefully get
another job where I am wanted.
After the Afcon win, President Goodluck
Jonathan intervened and sorted things
out. What if he does this time?
As much as I respect and appreciate the
number one citizen of the country I am
afraid that this time it is going to be
difficult. I am totally done with some of
these people.
If you were the Sports Minister of Nigeria
what is it you will do or try and put in
place to make the job of the national
team coach a lot easier?
Make the Federation pay his salaries on
time and those of his assistants. Build a
training centre and facility for the national
team to train. We never had anywhere
decent to train. The Abuja National Stadium
is filled with sand and the worst kind of
sand. That means when someone goes to
ground he will have skin wounds.
I and my assistants spend our own money
to buy training cones and some of the
things we use for training sessions. In
most countries of the world when a coach
is hired he brings in his own coaching
team. Well for two years now I have been
told to pay the salary of my assistant
Valery Houandinou, someone who has
been with me from Togo through to Mali
– where those countries paid his salary
alongside paying mine.
In two and half years, I had no official
residence. I stayed in a hotel. I had no
official car. I thank God for Chief Mike
Adenuga for those two cars he gave to me
after the Afcon win. However, these
federation officials will continue to trumpet
that “they gave Keshi everything to
succeed.
Mali is one of the poorest countries in
Africa but I was given my place of
residence and an official car within three
days of me taking on the job. I also had a
house in Togo and was never owed
salaries.
What will happen to the young players
you have built up into internationals as it
means that Nigeria is losing out on the
continuity that you staying on would
have brought on?
Well, there is a nucleus of a team to work
with there so a new coach will have the
players there. In my mind I could set out
two equally strong squads with the players
available to me.
However, the new coach might come in
and say that these players would not fit
into his style and so it will be. Not going to
be my problem again (smiles).
Clearly your experience with Togo and
Mali has helped you at this job?
Oh, without a shadow of doubt. God took
me to those countries to give me the
experience of dealing with people. It is far
more difficult to work in your own country
I have just found out. When I qualified
Togo for the Afcon and the World Cup I got
their national honour and diplomatic
passport.
Such was their gratitude. They make you
comfortable and of course results followed.
God was awesome in taking me through
that route.
Did you take a risk with the squad you
took to the tournament?
I did not take a risk. From the training
camp and from the friendly matches I
chose the players I believed would give me
what I wanted on the field. People say I
took players to sell them and I laugh.
Michael Babatunde has not even started

Michael Babatunde has not even started
playing. Ramon Azeez will be a top player
and he has a big heart. It is unfortunate for
Reuben Gabriel that he has suffered a lot
with injuries because he has every
attribute to be a super player. Many
Nigerians who are sincere know his
qualities. I trust that he will come through.
But would you be his or their coaches
then?
No. My job with Nigeria is done. I just hope
who comes in will give them the
opportunity to showcase their talents.
When I took over there was no standing
team and I had to build from scratch really
but am gone.
I have loved serving my country but I
believe I am done.
An interview Keshi granted thecable.ng
after the defeat by France in Brasilia

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/nothing-ll-make-change-mind-coach-eagles-keshi/

And he'll soon come out to debunk this.

nff are a disgrace.i dnt blame keshi for resigning