Renaming Asaba Stadium After Keshi Excites Coaches

Some national coaches from various sports have expressed happiness over the naming of the Asaba Township Stadium after Coach Stephen Keshi for winning the Africa Cup of Nations.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on behalf of the Delta Government on February 15 re-named the stadium after Keshi, an indigene of the state, for successfully winning the 29th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

The government had since re-awarded the contract for the completion of refurbishment of the stadium, after the facility was abandoned for some years.

Reacting to the re-naming, Ndubuisi Nduka, the Head Coach, Heartland FC of Owerri, told Tidesports that the gesture was a good omen for coaches in the country.

“It is a good tradition that should be encouraged in order to get the best out of those in the coaching family,” he said.

On his part, Tunde Disu, a former Flying Eagles Coach, said Keshi deserved the honour, being the second in Africa to have won the cup as a player and coach.

Yisa Sofuluwe, an ex-Green Eagles defender, said that if the trend was maintained, it would inspire coaches to go the extra mile.

“Such practice is good for sports development in Nigeria,” Shofoluwe, who is currently coach of Naths Boys of Lekki, Lagos, added.

National Chief Badminton Coach Danjuma Fatauchi said it was good that coaches were being recognised while still alive.

Fatauchi said that such an attention would give coaches a sense of belonging, stressing, “that we are being immortalised while alive is something to appreciate”.

Also reacting, former National Boxing Coach, Obisie Nwamkpa said it was a good thing that those who risk their lives to work for their country’s glory were being adored.

He, however, expressed regret that the recognition was coming rather late for somebody like him, who in the past achieved great feats for the country without anything to show for it.

Nwamkpa, who expressed happiness over the change from ‘mere handshake’ to material rewards, said such good tidings would further ignite coaches and athletes to go all out to work for glory.

It would recalled that keshi announced that he was dedicating the trophy to all his colleagues, the Nigerian coaches, while speaking with journalists after winning the trophy.