Former Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi has said that he is no longer interested in coaching the Nigerian team due to the constant criticism, back biting and lack of faith in his abilities.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Keshi confirmed his resignation.
His words: “Yes. I have done my bit. I am tired of all the intrigues and backbiting and insinuations I get. The criticisms are nothing really because even siblings criticise each other. In this job sometimes it goes overboard and my family and those of my players get called names.”
On the few Nigerians who support him and would want him to remain, Keshi said, “The same ones who were calling for my head after the Iran match? That ‚the World Cup is too big for Keshi? I know there are many who truly support what we have been trying to do over these past months but I just cannot continue in this job anymore.
“To start with, my contract ended with the last match and the Federation never approached me for a renewal. What does that say? It says to me I’m not wanted. I am going to go and rest, spend some time with my family and then hopefully get another job where I am wanted.”
Keshi said even President Jonathan’s intervention would not suffice to allow him continue with the calibre of people at the Nigerian Football Federation.
He said, “As much as I respect and appreciate the number one citizen of the country I am afraid that this time it is going to be difficult. I am totally done with some of these people.”
He said if he was sports minister, he would implement the following changes, “Make the Federation pay his salaries on time and those of his assistants. Build a training centre and facility for the national team to train. We never had anywhere decent to train. The Abuja National Stadium is filled with sand and the worst kind of sand. That means when someone goes to ground he will have skin wounds.
“I and my assistants spend our own money to buy training cones and some of the things we use for training sessions. In most countries of the world when a coach is hired he brings in his own coaching team. Well for two years now I have been told to pay the salary of my assistant Valery Houandinou, someone who has been with me from Togo through to Mali ‚where those countries paid his salary alongside paying mine.
“In two and half years, I had no official residence. I stayed in a hotel. I had no official car. I thank God for Chief Mike Adenuga for those two cars he gave to me after the Afcon win. However, these federation officials will continue to trumpet that ‚Äúthey gave Keshi everything to succeed.
“Mali is one of the poorest countries in Africa but I was given my place of residence and an official car within three days of me taking on the job. I also had a house in Togo and was never owed salaries.”
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