DROP ME IF YOU CAN – EMENIKE FIRES BACK AT KESHI

EMMANUEL EMENIKE

Emmanuel Emenike says he is prepared to stay out of the Super Eagles if coach Stephen Keshi believed he is the problem of the team.

Fenerbahce and Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike sayshe is prepared to stay out of the team if Stephen Keshi believes he was the team's problem.

Keshi has been quoted as saying he is unhappy with the player, who he benched in last month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo in Calabar.

However, Emenike in his reaction, said, though, he respects Keshi, but believes that he has never been the team's problem and will never be.

"I've always treated Keshi like a father, and he has always lived in my heart to be a good father. Before now, we have been enjoying a smooth relationship and I see no reason why he should be holding grudges against me," he said.

"I give him all the respect I can give my father whenever I come for a national assignment.

"Before the 2013 Nations Cup, I could remember he called me to have a chat and I was ready to give him my best.

"My performance at the competition was inspired by Keshi. He showed me love, he put me through and I always respected his decisions. I never thought that I am bigger than any coach."

He also said he was therefore surprised to read a comment that Keshi and some players in the team were not happy with him.

"Everything changed after the Nations Cup, everything about him towards me changed and I decided to stay on my own," he further revealed.

"But I am very surprised by what he said that he and some players in the Eagles were not happy with me over what?

He added: “I have always loved to give my best for Nigeria and I always make it known that I can always fight to score goals for my country and I will not like coach Keshi to let Nigerians see me as an indisciplined player who is not ready to give them my best again.

"I have maintained a solid relationship to avoid quarreling with him, but if my invitation to play for Nigeria does not stand for peace, I will like to stay focused with my club."

“My Super Eagles career is as important as my club career. Coming to play for Nigeria was the biggest decision I have ever made in my life. And I appreciate the way the fans have been striving hard to cheer me up whenever I push for goal.”

He stated that: “I have never seen the Super Eagles camp as my father’s house, it’s a temporary place for everybody, and why should we be making problems for ourselves? he asked.

 “If Keshi thought inviting me is a problem to his selection or the team, I will prefer to stay back and maintain my big respect for him”.