Keshi backs bench warmer Enyeama
Eagles coach Keshi
Lille make contact for Enyeama
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has backed Vincent Enyeama to be his
top goalkeeper even though he has been warming the bench at French club Lille.
“It doesn’t bother me (that he is not playing regularly in France) because he’s our No. 1 goalkeeper,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com in an exclusive interview.
“He’s very experienced, he carries along the players and I was impressed with him in June along with the likes of (John) Utaka, Ike Uche and Victor Moses.
“He has got a good rapport with the players. At a time when I was playing for the Eagles, I was not playing in my club’s first team but (Clemens) Westerhof kept me in his team until I broke into the first team.
“So, it doesn’t matter as long as he’s in shape, his attitude towards the game is what matters and he wants to do something for Nigeria there’s nothing more left.”
Keshi also spoke on his rebuilding process as well as what he expects of the foreign pros against Liberia next month even though the 2013 AFCON qualifier will be played on artificial pitch.
The full interview:
MTNFootball.com: What do you hope to achieve with the friendly in Niger on August 15?
Stephen Keshi: First, is to bring the players back together and bring some other new players who we have not seen, then of course try to see the pattern of play we want to play and see if we could carry that out as well and also correct our mistakes because there will be mistakes.
In general, how is your rebuilding process coming through?
It’s really coming together with good team spirit which is very important, the bonding is coming along which is also key. The players are bonding together, they fight for one another, the spirit in camp is good.
The unity is coming along, I love the way the professionals are working together with the home-based players. In June, there was no difference between the players based overseas and those at home, they worked together like brothers to achieve a common goal.
We see a lot of new call-ups for your latest squad. Is this something we will continue to see?
Yes, we might not have to every time call up like 10, 12 players, but if we see one, two players who are good, we will bring them in as probably some of these other players would leave for abroad. We need a back up for the players and so we will definitely see more additions.
Are you worried that Nigerian players including some of your recent discoveries like Reuben and Oboabona are not really attracting the big clubs in Europe?
It’s not about attracting big clubs. I started from Cote d’Ivoire, Abedi Pele started from Cotonou, George Weah started from Cameroon. The most important thing is for you to go out there and play in a good league.
It’s always good to start in a smaller team then you begin to understand and get to know about some new things to do, from there you can start to build your career. But if you leave now to a big club, you may have a problem of not featuring for the team regularly.
You often have to go through a smaller team, it’s not important to move to a big team, but the most important thing is to play regularly, day in, day out.
Raheem Lawal is now without a club and you have made it very clear he will not be called up again until he has sorted out his future.
Yes, I told him so. He called me that he’s looking for a new club and I hope he will get one and then we will take it from there.
Your No.1 goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is with a club, Lille, but he is not playing. Is this a big concern for you?
It doesn’t bother me because he’s our No. 1 goalkeeper. He’s very experienced, he carries along the players and I was impressed with him in June along with the likes of (John) Utaka, Ike Uche and Victor Moses.
He has got a good rapport with the players. At a time when I was playing for the Eagles, I was not playing in my club’s first team but (Clemens) Westerhof kept me in his team until I broke into the first team.
So, it doesn’t matter as long as he’s in shape, his attitude towards the game is what matters and he wants to do something for Nigeria there’s nothing more left.
The foreign pros have struggled on the artificial turf as was the case in Rwanda. Are you disturbed that this could again be a problem in Liberia as we understand the game next month will also be played on such a pitch?
I’m not that worried as they all know we are playing on artificial turf and I know it will be difficult for the professionals to train because they do everything on natural grass. For them to come in for two to four training sessions on the artificial turf could be very difficult, but they have to work on their mental toughness and concentration and then they can hit the mark.
Several top NFF officials have told the media that the Eagles will beat Liberia in Monrovia and Calabar? Do you share this optimism?
Of course, I’m optimistic. If not, I don’t have to go to Liberia. With all due respect to Liberia, I’ve got to have full confidence in my team because that’s how it should be, otherwise I don’t have a business there. As a coach I have respect for the opponents but we will go there to give our best.
The qualifiers for the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) for local league players will begin in November. Hopefully, this should form a big part of your build-up for the 2013 AFCON?
This is the vision that we have. The CHAN which Nigeria have are yet to qualify for after two editions is a priority and it will form an aspect of our preparations towards the 2013 Nations Cup.
In your 10 months in charge of the Eagles, what would you say has given you the most satisfaction?
“It doesn’t bother me (that he is not playing regularly in France) because he’s our No. 1 goalkeeper,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com in an exclusive interview.
“He’s very experienced, he carries along the players and I was impressed with him in June along with the likes of (John) Utaka, Ike Uche and Victor Moses.
“He has got a good rapport with the players. At a time when I was playing for the Eagles, I was not playing in my club’s first team but (Clemens) Westerhof kept me in his team until I broke into the first team.
“So, it doesn’t matter as long as he’s in shape, his attitude towards the game is what matters and he wants to do something for Nigeria there’s nothing more left.”
Keshi also spoke on his rebuilding process as well as what he expects of the foreign pros against Liberia next month even though the 2013 AFCON qualifier will be played on artificial pitch.
The full interview:
MTNFootball.com: What do you hope to achieve with the friendly in Niger on August 15?
Stephen Keshi: First, is to bring the players back together and bring some other new players who we have not seen, then of course try to see the pattern of play we want to play and see if we could carry that out as well and also correct our mistakes because there will be mistakes.
In general, how is your rebuilding process coming through?
It’s really coming together with good team spirit which is very important, the bonding is coming along which is also key. The players are bonding together, they fight for one another, the spirit in camp is good.
The unity is coming along, I love the way the professionals are working together with the home-based players. In June, there was no difference between the players based overseas and those at home, they worked together like brothers to achieve a common goal.
We see a lot of new call-ups for your latest squad. Is this something we will continue to see?
Yes, we might not have to every time call up like 10, 12 players, but if we see one, two players who are good, we will bring them in as probably some of these other players would leave for abroad. We need a back up for the players and so we will definitely see more additions.
Are you worried that Nigerian players including some of your recent discoveries like Reuben and Oboabona are not really attracting the big clubs in Europe?
It’s not about attracting big clubs. I started from Cote d’Ivoire, Abedi Pele started from Cotonou, George Weah started from Cameroon. The most important thing is for you to go out there and play in a good league.
It’s always good to start in a smaller team then you begin to understand and get to know about some new things to do, from there you can start to build your career. But if you leave now to a big club, you may have a problem of not featuring for the team regularly.
You often have to go through a smaller team, it’s not important to move to a big team, but the most important thing is to play regularly, day in, day out.
Raheem Lawal is now without a club and you have made it very clear he will not be called up again until he has sorted out his future.
Yes, I told him so. He called me that he’s looking for a new club and I hope he will get one and then we will take it from there.
Your No.1 goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is with a club, Lille, but he is not playing. Is this a big concern for you?
It doesn’t bother me because he’s our No. 1 goalkeeper. He’s very experienced, he carries along the players and I was impressed with him in June along with the likes of (John) Utaka, Ike Uche and Victor Moses.
He has got a good rapport with the players. At a time when I was playing for the Eagles, I was not playing in my club’s first team but (Clemens) Westerhof kept me in his team until I broke into the first team.
So, it doesn’t matter as long as he’s in shape, his attitude towards the game is what matters and he wants to do something for Nigeria there’s nothing more left.
The foreign pros have struggled on the artificial turf as was the case in Rwanda. Are you disturbed that this could again be a problem in Liberia as we understand the game next month will also be played on such a pitch?
I’m not that worried as they all know we are playing on artificial turf and I know it will be difficult for the professionals to train because they do everything on natural grass. For them to come in for two to four training sessions on the artificial turf could be very difficult, but they have to work on their mental toughness and concentration and then they can hit the mark.
Several top NFF officials have told the media that the Eagles will beat Liberia in Monrovia and Calabar? Do you share this optimism?
Of course, I’m optimistic. If not, I don’t have to go to Liberia. With all due respect to Liberia, I’ve got to have full confidence in my team because that’s how it should be, otherwise I don’t have a business there. As a coach I have respect for the opponents but we will go there to give our best.
The qualifiers for the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) for local league players will begin in November. Hopefully, this should form a big part of your build-up for the 2013 AFCON?
This is the vision that we have. The CHAN which Nigeria have are yet to qualify for after two editions is a priority and it will form an aspect of our preparations towards the 2013 Nations Cup.
In your 10 months in charge of the Eagles, what would you say has given you the most satisfaction?
Seeing the
local players grow, the amount of cooperation and support that I am getting from the NFF and of course the
patience that some Nigerians are having over the build up have been encouraging.
The bulk of the team in most countries start from their home-based players, this was how we came through during our own days and I believe there are a lot of young, talented home-based players who are hungry to succeed.
I wouldn’t want to use the word satisfied, but I’m okay with what I’m seeing. Satisfied would be when all the home-based players have changed their mentality and see this as a serious business and not just about wearing your country’s uniform and standing out there to sing the national anthem. They have to realise this is serious business and give 110% always.
The bulk of the team in most countries start from their home-based players, this was how we came through during our own days and I believe there are a lot of young, talented home-based players who are hungry to succeed.
I wouldn’t want to use the word satisfied, but I’m okay with what I’m seeing. Satisfied would be when all the home-based players have changed their mentality and see this as a serious business and not just about wearing your country’s uniform and standing out there to sing the national anthem. They have to realise this is serious business and give 110% always.
Duke or Saidu Arabia as you call yourself i think you and your mama should be sacked not Keshi. Go worry about your trouble in your arabialand. Dont worry about what the coach of nigerian national team is doing. For the record, the coach is building a team for the future of the land and present if you dont understand a thing or two about football. Get lost .
10 months of re-building, and Keshi still don't have a team....Sack him NOW
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