Keshi is responsible for his sack – Sport administrator

Lagos – Tayo Balogun, a sport administrator on Thursday said that coach Stephen Keshi was responsible for all the events that led to his sack.

The administrator spoke on the backdrop of the decision by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to terminate the appointment of the Keshi led technical crew on Wednesday.

The sack has continued to generate mixed reactions from notable individuals in the football circle.

Some of them, who spoke in Lagos, expressed the hope that the decision would impact positively on Nigeria football.

Balogun, however, said that the coach personalised trivial issues concerning the team and also undermined many players.

“Keshi is the architect of his own failure; he had more players that should have made the teams but he didn’t invite them.

“Most goals we conceded were defensive errors, he was a defender in his days and he couldn’t organise a good defence,’’ he said.

Also, Joseph Dosu, a former Super Eagles player, said that NFF took everyone unaware with the decision to terminate Keshi’s appointment.

Dosu, however, wished the makeshift coaches well and hoped they would qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations.

“I think the news of Keshi’s sack took everyone unawares; I also thought he would be left alone after yesterday’s match but the committee know what’s best for Nigerian football.

“I wish the new coaches well and they must ensure they qualify for the nations cup,’’ Dosu said.

Also, Ibrahim Galadinma, a former chairman of the NFF, said the board had made a decision they felt was best and should be treated as such.

“I cannot say whether it was a good or bad decision, but I believe they are working for the greater good of Nigerian football,’’ he said.

Folorunsho Okenla, a football analyst told NAN that he believed the decision was in the best interest of the country.

“It’s obvious that the Eagles in recent outings didn’t perform well, especially the ongoing Nations Cup qualifiers.

“I think it is a good development that will help to correct Keshi’s mistake,’’ he stressed.

NAN reports that Keshi, who led the Super Eagles to the 2013 Nations Cup victory, was appointed in 2011.

Ndubuisi Nduka, a former Head Coach of Heartland FC of Owerri, said that the sack Keshi, had been long overdue going by his disposition lately.

Nduka said that hiring and firing was synonymous with coaching.

The coach said on telephone that Keshi’s attitude to the job of late had changed to something unworthy of a good coach.

“He had been in constant fight with some players whom he tagged disloyal.

“Great players all over the world are known to be pompous, so, it is the duty of the coach to bend such character to his own advantage,” Nduka said.

According to him, keshi failed to separate his personal interest from national interest.

He said that it was because of his personal interest as against national interest that made him not to invite better players to the team.

He reminded the sacked coach that a national team of the status of the Super Eagles was not meant to be run like a chiefdom. (NAN)