Treat Keshi like Westerhof said Kalu

Sensing discomfiture in ties between the GlassHouse and Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi over the appointment of an expatriate
Technical Director,Former Abia state governor Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu Wednesday pleaded with the Football Federation to give the Nigerian a breather.
Kalu advised that perhaps Keshi should adopt Dutchman Clemens Westerhof’s survival
strategy to realise the objective of rebuilding the senior national team.
He said,”The NFF may appear to mean well,but you cannot have two captains on a ship.If we really want to re-enact the Westerhof Golden Years of Nigerian soccer ,then Keshi must be given a free hand to run this show.Westerhof succeeded because he was not a ‘primus inter pares’[First among equals],he was de facto Manager.”
On the country’s free fall in FIFA Rankings,the former governor explained that such classification was just for record purposes arguing that the best on the World list could lose to rank outsiders in a World Cup match.
“It is too early to start judging performance.Yes ,Eagles have fallen to No.60.That is not the end.What was Cameroun’s position when with nine men,the Lions devoured defending champions Diego Maradona’s Argentina at Italia ’90?Senegal did the same to France in 2002.It is more honourable to fumble in friendlies and win in competitions.It takes time to rebuild,football is highly technical,”,he added.
Kalu would later punch a joker when he implied that Keshi could as well read Westerhof’s Green Book that made him a die hard strategist in the murky pool of officialdom.
“I remember the story of the Netherlander finding his way to Adm.Augustus Aikhomu’s office while some top sports officials waited at the reception.I know President Goodluck Jonathan has officially descended on God fatherism,but when it comes to the round leather game, Nigerians may gladly sing Niccolo Machiavelli’s dictum ‘the end justifies the means’.Fans do not need any more heartbreak”,Kalu summed up.

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has heaped praises on Nigeria players

Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has heaped praises on his players after they were beaten by 2-3 by the Pharaohs of Egypt that ended 2-3 against Nigeria in Dubai, UAE, Thursday night.

Addressing the players after the match Big Boss Keshi said, “despite the frustrating display by the referee, the team showed character, grit and concentration till the last whistle.

“The referee if he has a conscience, should know that he robbed us, because we had a penalty that was not given and the last goals looked questionable but like I told you I expected this type of officiating. Pick yourself up and lets get set for the next round of game.”

Other technical crew members also gave kudos to the players, urging them not to be downcast over the last minute extra time goal.

Nigeria next faces Gabon in another international friendly in Libreville, next month.

Menawhile, Super Eagles and Blackburn Rovers of England goals banger, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has said that the national team deserved plaudits over its gallant display against the Pharaohs of Egypt in Dubai, UAE on Thursday night .

He also called for total support for the coaching crew of the team headed by Stephen Okechikwu Keshi.

Yak, who was monitoring the game, put a call through immediately after the encounter to say he was more than impressed with the report he got and said the team will do even better if the NFF maintains its current state of motivation for the national team.

“We all started like they started and for them to go and play so well against Egypt like I heard they did, we must say kudos to the team and Keshi for the innovation to try and use local talent to beef up the national team,” he said.

He recalled that the first time he played alongside some of the players who featured in the Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali, he told some of his foreign based colleagues to brace up for serious challenge, because the players from the Nigerian league were very good.

“The left winger Ejike Uzoenyi, was exceptional and I also pick the right full back, Godfrey Oboabona, as some of the players who will soon hit it big in international football.

“All the players are very good and determined and I’m not surprised that they showed their stuff against Egypt. Now we know Nigerian football has a bright future.”

Despite playing in Dubai, which is considered the second home of the Egyptian national team, Nigeria’s Super Eagles did not lack support, when they took on the Pharaohs of Egypt at the exquisite Al-Nasri Club stadium in the city of Dubai on Thursday.

Senate Committee Chairman on Sports, Senator Ibrahim Adamu Gumba, a member of his committee and passionate follower of football, Senator Abdul Ningi, the representative of Sports Minister Bolaji Abdulahi and Director General, National Sports Commission, Dr Patrick Ekeji, Alhaji Abba Yola, NFF board member Shehu Adamu and Barrister Chris Green, were all in the stands to cheer the national team in the game against the Pharaohs.

A clubside from Bauchi State, known as Yankari Babes, that is currently on a playing tour of the UAE, was on hand to lend support, along with Nigerians resident in Dubai and its environs.

Yankari Babes which attended the last training session of the national team were encouraged by Stephen Keshi to keep up the good work as any of them who excels will sooner than later find himself in the national team as the country continues to rebuild for a stronger and more dependable national team for the country.