Keshi insists 'patriotic' Mikel in his plans
Mikel, a patriot and still in Keshi's plans
Eagles plan friendly August
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has hailed Chelsea star Mikel Obi as a
patriotic player who is still very much part of his plans.
Keshi was reacting to a call by former Nigeria skipper Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha that Mikel be recalled to the national team.
“We may have played some games without Mikel, but he has always been part of the team and I must tell Nigerians that I have been in touch with the player,” said Keshi.
“On the day of the Nations Cup draw in South Africa, myself and Mikel spoke for over 40 minutes on various aspect of football and I was impressed with his patriotism for Nigeria and the success of the national team.
“We must be careful not to bring division and hero worship into the national team.
“Mikel has said again and again that he has no problems with the national team technical crew and I don’t have any problems with him either, so calling for his recall to the team is unnecessary, because he has always been a part of the team.”
The Eagles boss warned that such calls would mean that the other Europe-based professionals who were not invited for the June games against Namibia, Malawi and Rwanda were not important in the national team.
“We have a lot of players who were not part of the last games like Obafemi Martins, Obinna Nsofor, Ogbuke Obasi, Emmanuel Emenike and more.
“These players are as important and very good to our ambition of building a strong national team for Nigeria and I have been in touch with all of them, so we must avoid division in the national and respect the decision of the coach.
Keshi concluded by saying that no matter the amount of pressure, he would make it a point of duty to invite only the players needed for particular games and if Mikel is relevant, he would surely be called up.
Keshi was reacting to a call by former Nigeria skipper Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha that Mikel be recalled to the national team.
“We may have played some games without Mikel, but he has always been part of the team and I must tell Nigerians that I have been in touch with the player,” said Keshi.
“On the day of the Nations Cup draw in South Africa, myself and Mikel spoke for over 40 minutes on various aspect of football and I was impressed with his patriotism for Nigeria and the success of the national team.
“We must be careful not to bring division and hero worship into the national team.
“Mikel has said again and again that he has no problems with the national team technical crew and I don’t have any problems with him either, so calling for his recall to the team is unnecessary, because he has always been a part of the team.”
The Eagles boss warned that such calls would mean that the other Europe-based professionals who were not invited for the June games against Namibia, Malawi and Rwanda were not important in the national team.
“We have a lot of players who were not part of the last games like Obafemi Martins, Obinna Nsofor, Ogbuke Obasi, Emmanuel Emenike and more.
“These players are as important and very good to our ambition of building a strong national team for Nigeria and I have been in touch with all of them, so we must avoid division in the national and respect the decision of the coach.
Keshi concluded by saying that no matter the amount of pressure, he would make it a point of duty to invite only the players needed for particular games and if Mikel is relevant, he would surely be called up.
what i dont really like is the idea of former star players putting pressure on a team coach to recall certain players. its not healthy for the team, as it can distract the entire set up. its up to the coach to call up those he chose to call. If Mikel is dat good, he will be called.
please keshi do you best and make you team strong and beucase you are working so hard now ..you know who is bad playe and agan you know who is going to play vere well for you
player like mikel is nothing in our natnal team but dsaster,can one remember dat game against ajentinal?if he is best midfielder not in 9geria,not in africa,not in d world.but were?chelse,pls big boos just let him be pls,just contnue ur rbuildng and remove mikel frm ur plan
Keshi please don't recall Mikel Obi, he is not patriotic.
Keshi please don't recall Mikel Obi, he is not patriotic.
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