‘No Plans To Ban Mikel’

The Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya, has denied speculations that Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, might be banned from  the National team.
“There is no truth in such a speculation,’’ Alaiya told newsmen in Lagos on telephone.
“Nothing of such is happening and people should confirm things before publishing. I am surprised and amazed at such a speculation. It baffles me how people just come up with such thoughts,’’ he said.
“Mikel is a good and fantastic player and there is no cause for him to be banned from the National team. His services are still needed in the team. A ban is far from it now,’’ Alaiya said.
Speculations had been rife in the online media earlier in the month that Coach Stephen Keshi, the Eagles helmsman, wanted the player banned from the team over a comment he (Mikel) made in Brazil during the FIFA Confederations Cup.
We gathered that the comment was uttered in Hausa language, which was said to have been translated into English for the coach.
The publications did not say exactly what was uttered.
The Super Eagles would play a friendly game against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the Mandela Challenge, scheduled for the Moses Madiba Stadium, Durban, South Africa on August 14.