Keshi Returns, Tasked To Build Vibrant Eagles

Stephen Keshi, yesterday in Abuja signed a new contract to lead the Super Eagles’ coaching crew for another two years.
The deal which is between Keshi and the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) will see Keshi reporting directly to the association’s Technical Department.
The contract is expected to last till 2017, but its renewal will depend on his achievement in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and the tournament proper in Gabon.
Seyi Akinwunmi, NFA’s First Vice-Chairman who signed on behalf of the football body, said the signing of the contract would end the speculations over Keshi’s re-appointment.
He said Keshi’s assistants would be named in due course.
Akinwunmi who represented Amaju Pinnick, the NFA Chairman, also said the contract was expected to bring a new vision to the country’s football.
He further said the deal would bring about a new dawn, a new thinking and renewed hope to the Super Eagles.
The NFA board member said the team under the leadership of Keshi could not afford to fail Nigerians.
“This is a brief outline of our determination as the custodian of Nigerian football; a new thinking in the management of the Super Eagles and other national teams, as well as the appointment of coaches.
“With this, we can move forward for a common goal,’’ he said.
Akinwunmi said the resolve by both parties to work for a common goal was to avoid the repeat of the 2014 events when the country failed to qualify for the 2015 AFCON.
He however identified the crisis which engulfed the NFA after Sept. 30, 2014 board elections as the major factor which delayed the signing of Keshi’s contract after the board’s approval.
Akinwunmi also blamed the 2014 general elections for the delay in naming Keshi as the Super Eagles Head Coach.
“But the NFA board took its time to deliberate on the appointment of the chief coach for the Super Eagles for a number of reasons,’’ he said.
In his response, Keshi said he was lucky to be picked among 170 million Nigerians to coach the Super Eagles.
He pleaded for the co-operation of the NFA and the media to enable him take the team to greater heights, and thanked Pinnick for ensuring the deal came through.
“I also thank Nigerians everywhere, who still believe I have what it takes to take Nigerian football to the next level.
“But Keshi alone cannot do this job. It’s huge, and it’s going to be a collective effort.
“I know I will get 150 per cent support from the NFA and I also believe I will get 120 per cent support from the media for me to succeed.
“If we team up together, stay together as one, the sky will be the limit for the Super Eagles. This is a new beginning for our football. We will give all we have to be up there.
Meanwhile, The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said it expects Coach Stephen Keshi to encourage young players to the Super Eagles after the coach formally signed a new contract, yesterday.
NFF acting president Seyi Akinwunmi said Keshi has been tasked with building a “young, vibrant Eagles”.
“He has the charge to create a new young, vibrant Eagles that would play a style of football that Nigerians would be proud of,” said Akinwunmi.
“To ensure a seamless transition of the U20 players to the Super Eagles”
In his first stint, Keshi was slow in building exciting young talents like Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho.
Akinwunmi also said Keshi’s appointment was the start of a plan to develop world-class coaches for the country.
“Keshi’s appointment is part of a long-term plan to develop world-class coaches and so the board took its time to deliberate over the appointment of Keshi,” he said.

A Nigeria professional Football League (NPFL) action between Kano Pillars and Enyimba in Kano on Sunday.