… Big Boss Ready To Return -Amodu Agrees To Step Aside The stage is set for a dramatic return to the Super Eagles’ saddle by Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, as The Big Boss has agreed to a u-turn announced by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which had earlier asked him to step aside. Barely two weeks after the NFF took that shock decision to release Keshi, 24 hours after he put the Africa Cup of Nations qualification train back on track with a 3-1 spanking of Sudan in Abuja, officials at The Glasshouse have acceded to peace moves brokered by sports minister, Dr Tammy Danagogo. However, Keshi is not looking at the peace-making angle of the NFF’s request for him to return to the job he vacated on October 16, as the former Togo and Mali handler says he will accept the offer out of patriotism if asked to do so by President Goodluck Jonathan. Keshi’s reaction came after follow-up reports indicated that it was actually President Jonathan that ordered Danagogo and the NFF to reinstate the gaffer as Eagles’ coach. Keshi had earlier refused to comment on speculations he was to return as Eagles’ coach after Jonathan’s meeting with NFF president, Melvin Amaju Pinnick and factional leader, Ambassador Chris Giwa at Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday night. Keshi told AfricanFootball: Well I am just hearing from you. But if the President of my country asked me to return, who am I to refuse. Interestingly, while Keshi was later on locked in a meeting with Danagogo, the man put in charge of the Eagles on an interim basis, Shaibu Amodu pleaded with the NFF leadership to allow The Big Boss take charge for the last two AFCON qualifiers. In a letter dated 27th October, 2014 and addressed to Pinnick through chairman of NFF technical committee, the 56--year-old Amodu said he wanted Keshi reconsidered because the time-frame is too short to tinker the squad or build a new team. “Following wide consultations that I have carefully made within the past two weeks since the appointment, and for the sake of professionalism, I want to specially appeal to you to reconsider the matter and allow Stephen Keshi to finish the project that he has started. “As technical director of the NFF, I am ready and willing to help build a better relationship among Keshi (with whom I have enjoyed good working relationship in the past and who is still very close to me), the players and the NFF technical committee,” requested Amodu.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 04:58:25 +0000
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