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 because it was still lagging
behind in many vital areas needed to attain such levels.
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.”
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