Opinion: What does Segun Adeniyi have against Stephen Keshi?

by Deji Agbeniyi

Keshi (1)

I have read and quoted Mr Adeniyi’s submission with discomfort. He doesn’t strike me like a man who would call out a popular figure like Keshi without Cogent reasons.

The aftermath of the World Cup in Brazil has left Nigerian Football with all sorts of controversies. From the FIFA ban on the interference of government in the Nigerian Football federation issues to the matter of Stephen Keshi’s contract as coach of the super eagles. It’s been a roller coaster of drama. Another voice recently echoed on the matter of Nigerian football. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman of the THISDAY editorial board in his weekly back page column of Thursday 24 July , 2014 raised what I would call a diplomatic indictment of Stephen Keshi Coach of the super eagles while also asking that the football authorities ‘call his bluff’. Below is an excerpt from Mr. Adeniyi’s article:

“Although our report (not implemented before the change of guards at the ministry) did not exactly find Keshi guilty for the embarrassment in Namibia (which by the way still happened at the world cup in Brazil) It did not escape our attention that from the 1994 world cup in the US when Nigeria was having a good outing until the players began to demand for higher bonus above what was officially agreed: to the 2002 African cup of Nations Tournament in Mali, leading to another disappointing outing: to the case In Namibia ,Bonus row has been a perennial problem. And in all cases listed above, Keshi was involved either as a player or as a coach …..Therefore, now that Keshi’s Contract with the NFF has ended, he should be encouraged to go. Given his rich CV in football management not only in Nigeria but on the continent, he will definitely not be lacking in lucrative offers. All factors considered, I do not think that Keshi is the manager that the Super eagles need going forward”.

I have read and quoted Mr Adeniyi’s submission with discomfort. He doesn’t strike me like a man who would call out a popular figure like Keshi without cogent reasons. Any discerning mind can read in between the lines on what our ‘oga’ at THISDAY is (not) saying. I want the best for Nigerian football and only wish matters as raised by Mr Adeniyi are dealt with in appointing or reappointing a coach for the Super Eagles.

The Brown Ideye we rejected

On Friday July 18, Brown Ideye, Nigerian born Super eagles player joined the galaxy of Premier league stars for the 2014/15 football Season in England. A club-record fee of 10m pounds is reported to have made this move to West Brom Albion Football club possible. It is ironic that Brown Ideye who was dropped from Nigeria’s world cup campaign by Coach Keshi (I dropped him too) has attracted interest from a club side in the most entertaining football league in the world.

The fact that Ideye had been a part of Nigeria’s Nations Cup winning team in 2013 and very present in the world cup qualification campaigns was not sufficient to give him a place in the final 23 man list for Brazil 2014. The former Dynamo Kyiv striker had an unimpressive outing in the Continental championship in Brazil 2013 coupled with some inefficient attacking displays in a number of friendly matches for the super eagles. This is a contrast to 33 goals scored in 74 league appearances for Dynamo Kyiv that has attracted the attention of the baggies in England. While nothing interesting has been heard about the players Coach Keshi (and I) took to the world cup, Brown Ideye has emerged as that cornerstone we rejected. I sincerely wish Ideye the very best of times in England.

The 2014/15 Fantasy football season

The 2014/2015 European football season is upon us. From August 16 fans around the world can begin to indulge their fantasies in the English premier league. One common past time in the course of every football season is the love for the side attraction of Fantasy football. This emerging season would definitely not be an exception. I am considering putting up a wager on fantasy football this year. Participants in my league would be afforded the opportunity to not only play the English premier league fantasy football competition but also with a prize for the team (winner) toping the league table at the end of the season. Please watch my space/follow me on the twitter handle @TheDeji. Let the season begin!

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Deji Agbeniyi is of the financial services industry, writes from Abuja and tweets from  @TheDeji

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

 

One comment

  1. Someone should tell Segun Adeniyi that he has lost one of his followers and fans for his disappointing statement on Stephen Keshi. One problem with Adeniyi is that he thinks he knows all and that is general problem journalists are having. He should drop his pen and come to football field to take over Keshi’s job. What else does he want from Keshi! During his contract period, He won the Nation’s Cup and got us to second round world cup, a feast our foreign Coach has not achieved.

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