Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has described as ridiculous a report in a national daily at the weekend which quoted former Assistant Coach, Sylvanus Okpala as saying that the money given to the team by the Cross River state government after last year’s Nations Cup triumph was shared by Nigeria Football Federation officials.
Speaking from Abuja after reading the story, which quoted Okpala as saying the money was taken from those of officials and players in order to ensure peace, which has now eluded the team, Keshi described the comment as not only untrue but a calculated attempt to pitch him against his employers. “I want to assume that Sylvanus was misquoted but if not then there is no truth in such a claim, because the NFF has never asked or shared from any monies given to the team by supporters and well meaning Nigerians and state governments.
Keshi also added that he as the Head Coach does not handle money and could not have been the one that paid Okpala, for him to ask questions about short payment. “We have our rules here in the team and the team administrator normally liaises with the Captain and other relevant authorizes before such monies are doled out. Indeed, the Cross River Government was very clear about who gets what and the money was paid direct to the account of all the players and officials”.
He said why Okpala, maybe angry with the NFF over his present employment status, blackmail will go nowhere in correcting perceived wrongdoing. “I don’t know why the media and some of our friends like to drag me into all these controversies when we should be concentrating on preparation for the World Cup. Maybe the name Keshi just evokes some form of joy in their minds and the only way to appreciate it is to put me under the searchlight all the time, it’s not fair on me please”.
In a similar vein, Fortuna Dusseldorf of Germany and Super Eagles defence ace, Leon Aderemi Balogun, says he will drop the POP on his injured toe by the end of this week. Speaking on his health status, on Sunday evening, Balogun said he is recovering very well as he does not feel any pain on the injured toe but has been warned against rushing to train.
“The recovery rate is perfect and by the end of the week I should drop the boot on the toe but I don’t want to make the mistake of many players who immediately rush back to training even when at the moment I feel no pain. I should be able to tell you my next move by the end of the week, but I will be ready when the Eagles are getting back to camp”, he said.
Balogun again praised the NFF leadership headed by Aminu Maigari for the concern they have shown towards his recovery and promised to rededicate himself to the Nigerian cause when he recovers fully. “From the NFF, to the coach and all Nigerians, I am very grateful for all the concern they have shown me and I pray that I can repay them when I recover fully”, he declared
