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No regret dropping Osaze, others – Keshi •Says 1994 squad better
Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said that he does not need all the good players in Nigeria to build a strong team and as such does not regret leaving out any player for the African cup.
Keshi dropped West Bromwich striker Osaze Odemwingie and Levante top scorer Obafemi Martins and kept faith in many players who had not appeared in any major international tournament at the senior level – some of them were picked from the Nigerian league.
The coach said most Nigerians did not understand why he dropped the players, noting that the present team has performed excellently without the players he rejected.
He said, “When we were in Portugal, there were lots of problems in Nigeria because I decided to drop some of my good players. Most Nigerians did not understand but I know why I dropped them. You don’t need all the good players to do the job for you in a tournament; sometimes what you need is strong mentality in the team.
“You need team players and those who will work for the team. There are lots of talents in this team but they need time to play together to understand themselves.”
The coach gave the impression that he was not under pressure when the team was struggling to qualify from the group stage of the 2013 Nations Cup. After the victory over Mali in the semi-final on Wednesday, Keshi said he was aware of the difficulties ahead when the team arrived in South Africa for the tournament.
He said, “When we started, it was a little bit difficult. We were just coming together for the first time. Most of the players had two or three days to work together during the qualifying series.
“But during the preparation for the competition, we worked hard. I knew that the first two or three games in the tournament might be hard for us because of fatigue and other difficult factors. In a competition like this, you never can tell what’s going to be. But the moment we got it right, that is it; we started winning because of the high level of discipline and commitment in the camp.”
Keshi said the present team were still not as good as the 1994 squad that won the Nations Cup in Tunisia and qualified for the World Cup. Keshi was the captain of the side but he highlighted the difference between the two teams.
“The 1994 squad took five years to build. This team is just five week-old. I don’t want people to get it wrong, we are just growing. Don’t think we are there yet. We are still adding and subtracting and if I see any player that will add quality to the team, I will bring him in,” the coach said.
‘I may resign after the Africa Cup of Nations’ – Keshi
Stephen Keshi shocked media men on Tuesday afternoon, when he stated he could resign as coach of the Super Eagles, after the Africa Cup of Nations.
When a journalist asked him during the press conference, if he would still be in charge of the Nigerian national team after the competition, he replied: “The most important thing is what I’m doing. If back home they don’t like what I’m doing well you can’t force someone to love you.
“If I win the cup I may pack and leave, I’m a professional coach, Nigeria is where my heart is and if there’s any more offer out there…,” Keshi said.
Keshi, who captained the Super Eagles to gold at Tunisia 1994, also insisted that he would have no issues working with a foreign coach, on the condition that the tactician knows his onions.
“I’m never against a white coach in Africa, but do not bring a mediocre coach from Europe,” he said. “If you bring a good coach, I can learn from him. We have good African players but we didn’t give them opportunities because they’re black dude.”
Speaking about Wednesday’s game against the Malians, who he had handled before, he said his players will play without intimidation, but added he would not mind returning as coach of Mali.
“It’s a place that I love, they’re wonderful people and if there’s a chance I will go back there,” he said.
Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said that he does not need all the good players in Nigeria to build a strong team and as such does not regret leaving out any player for the African cup.
Keshi dropped West Bromwich striker Osaze Odemwingie and Levante top scorer Obafemi Martins and kept faith in many players who had not appeared in any major international tournament at the senior level – some of them were picked from the Nigerian league.
The coach said most Nigerians did not understand why he dropped the players, noting that the present team has performed excellently without the players he rejected.
He said, “When we were in Portugal, there were lots of problems in Nigeria because I decided to drop some of my good players. Most Nigerians did not understand but I know why I dropped them. You don’t need all the good players to do the job for you in a tournament; sometimes what you need is strong mentality in the team.
“You need team players and those who will work for the team. There are lots of talents in this team but they need time to play together to understand themselves.”
The coach gave the impression that he was not under pressure when the team was struggling to qualify from the group stage of the 2013 Nations Cup. After the victory over Mali in the semi-final on Wednesday, Keshi said he was aware of the difficulties ahead when the team arrived in South Africa for the tournament.
He said, “When we started, it was a little bit difficult. We were just coming together for the first time. Most of the players had two or three days to work together during the qualifying series.
“But during the preparation for the competition, we worked hard. I knew that the first two or three games in the tournament might be hard for us because of fatigue and other difficult factors. In a competition like this, you never can tell what’s going to be. But the moment we got it right, that is it; we started winning because of the high level of discipline and commitment in the camp.”
Keshi said the present team were still not as good as the 1994 squad that won the Nations Cup in Tunisia and qualified for the World Cup. Keshi was the captain of the side but he highlighted the difference between the two teams.
“The 1994 squad took five years to build. This team is just five week-old. I don’t want people to get it wrong, we are just growing. Don’t think we are there yet. We are still adding and subtracting and if I see any player that will add quality to the team, I will bring him in,” the coach said.
‘I may resign after the Africa Cup of Nations’ – Keshi
Stephen Keshi shocked media men on Tuesday afternoon, when he stated he could resign as coach of the Super Eagles, after the Africa Cup of Nations.
When a journalist asked him during the press conference, if he would still be in charge of the Nigerian national team after the competition, he replied: “The most important thing is what I’m doing. If back home they don’t like what I’m doing well you can’t force someone to love you.
“If I win the cup I may pack and leave, I’m a professional coach, Nigeria is where my heart is and if there’s any more offer out there…,” Keshi said.
Keshi, who captained the Super Eagles to gold at Tunisia 1994, also insisted that he would have no issues working with a foreign coach, on the condition that the tactician knows his onions.
“I’m never against a white coach in Africa, but do not bring a mediocre coach from Europe,” he said. “If you bring a good coach, I can learn from him. We have good African players but we didn’t give them opportunities because they’re black dude.”
Speaking about Wednesday’s game against the Malians, who he had handled before, he said his players will play without intimidation, but added he would not mind returning as coach of Mali.
“It’s a place that I love, they’re wonderful people and if there’s a chance I will go back there,” he said.
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