Chris Maduewesi
Member
Former Super Eagles player,Efan Ekoku has said that he is disappointed with coach Stephen Keshi for the utterances he made against Malawi coach,Tom Saintfiet.
Ekoku who was Keshi’s teammate at the 1994 African Nations Cup said that he is “mystified and extremely disappointed.”
Following the exchange of words that ensued over Nigeira’s choice of venue for the 2014 World Cup qualifier,Saintfiet said that he will take Keshi to FIFA for calling him “a white dude who should go back to Belgium”.
“I’m mystified. I’m extremely disappointed – a little bit angry as well, that a guy who’s as smart as Stephen is, has been around international football for a long time, has travelled, has played in Belgium, was a very good footballer with a big profile in African football as well – would feel the need to say something like that,” Ekoku BBC’s Sportsworld programme.
“He’s been very outspoken, saying there should be a lot more African coaches, home based coaches who are in charge of their national team.”
“This kind of comment has been brewing for a while, but as I said, I’m extremely disappointed that he’s chosen to vent his frustration or anger in this way.”
But Ekoku is hoping that this latest controversy,will not hinder the Super Eagles from qualifying for next year’s World Cup,adding that it could cost Keshi his job.
“Not to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil next year would be an absolute disaster, and I’m sure it would cost Stephen Keshi his job.”
“Can they go on and perform very well at the World Cup if they qualify? I doubt that the squad is actually that good. I think we’ve had better teams in the past.”
“This one went to the Cup of Nations with reduced expectation and that probably worked in their favour. We’ve had better generations of Nigerian footballers and we’ve not been able to win.”
“This group of players has won something, we have one or two promising guys. I certainly hope that they can improve and we can find ourselves – in terms of consistency – at the top of the continental game for years to come”.
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Ekoku who was Keshi’s teammate at the 1994 African Nations Cup said that he is “mystified and extremely disappointed.”
Following the exchange of words that ensued over Nigeira’s choice of venue for the 2014 World Cup qualifier,Saintfiet said that he will take Keshi to FIFA for calling him “a white dude who should go back to Belgium”.
“I’m mystified. I’m extremely disappointed – a little bit angry as well, that a guy who’s as smart as Stephen is, has been around international football for a long time, has travelled, has played in Belgium, was a very good footballer with a big profile in African football as well – would feel the need to say something like that,” Ekoku BBC’s Sportsworld programme.
“He’s been very outspoken, saying there should be a lot more African coaches, home based coaches who are in charge of their national team.”
“This kind of comment has been brewing for a while, but as I said, I’m extremely disappointed that he’s chosen to vent his frustration or anger in this way.”
But Ekoku is hoping that this latest controversy,will not hinder the Super Eagles from qualifying for next year’s World Cup,adding that it could cost Keshi his job.
“Not to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil next year would be an absolute disaster, and I’m sure it would cost Stephen Keshi his job.”
“Can they go on and perform very well at the World Cup if they qualify? I doubt that the squad is actually that good. I think we’ve had better teams in the past.”
“This one went to the Cup of Nations with reduced expectation and that probably worked in their favour. We’ve had better generations of Nigerian footballers and we’ve not been able to win.”
“This group of players has won something, we have one or two promising guys. I certainly hope that they can improve and we can find ourselves – in terms of consistency – at the top of the continental game for years to come”.
Continue reading...