Comment on Sainfeit: I was defending my country - Keshi

Calabar - The Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, says his players are not under any pressure in their final Group F African qualifier for Brazil 2014 World Cup match in Calabar on Saturday.

Keshi said this in Calabar on Wednesday at a media briefing on the team’s preparations for the crucial encounter.

He said that the team and the coaching crew believed in hard work to get the maximum points.

''I have always believed in hard work. I do not believe in anything that is do or die. I am not under any pressure. We are only going to give our best on Saturday.''

The chief coach also said that the team had started training, adding that he was encouraged by the spirit of the players in training.

He further said that the controversy over his comment on the Malawian coach was meant to defend Nigeria and the Super Eagles.
[caption id="attachment_411481" align="alignnone" width="412"] Sainfeit and Keshi[/caption]
''I was defending my country and my team. Whatever I said was not directly to him personally,'' he said.

Keshi also said that Ikechukwu Uche of Villariel of Spain was still part of the team, adding that he had nothing against any player.

He said that Nigeria had a lot of players but not all of them would play at the same time.

''Ikechukwu is part of this team. There is nothing against any player. Only 11 players are needed in any match, so it is not possible to call everybody at the same time,'' he said.

He described Calabar as the home of the team and thanked the people and Government of Cross River for their reception.

Also speaking, the stand-in Captain of the team, Vincent Enyeama, said he was not in any competition with any player in the team, adding that all the goalkeepers in the team were equally good.

Enyeama, who said that he would soon leave the stage for the younger goalkeepers, however, did not specify on the time to quit nation's football team.

''The camp is amazing and I thank God for that. The first training was great with 12 players but I am optimistic that come Saturday we will win. Almost everybody is in camp.

''Calabar is one of the most secured places in Nigeria. I do not really know from where they got the information that Calabar is not secure.

''Calabar is also quiet. But I want the Flames to come out and play their game, have fun and be happy.

''We are professionals we know what is at stake and what is expected of us. We are not under any pressure, we are going out there to dorn the colour of Nigeria which we are also proud of,'' he said.

Chigozie Agbim, one of the three Super Eagles’ goalkeeper in camp for Saturday’s crunch Brazil 2014 World cup qualifier against the Flames of Malawi, also spoke with NAN.

''The spirit is high, the players’ spirit is high for Saturday’s match. Personally, I am 100 per cent ready. Our team don’t make noise.

''We will talk on the pitch on Saturday. But I can assure you that we will win them very well,'' he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 20 players have so far reported to the Metropolitan Hotel camp of the Eagles while three players were being expected.

Some of the players in camp include Vincent Enyeama, Chigozie Agbim, Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor, Ahmed Musa, Godffrey Oboabona, Sunday Mba and Azubuike Egwueke.

In a related development, the State Police Command says it is ready for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Hogan Bassey, gave the assurance in a telephone interview with NAN in Calabar on Wednesday.

Bassey said that the command was putting measures in place to ensure that adequate security was provided before, during and after the match.

''It is not in our character to disclose our strategies but I can assure you that the police are ready to provide adequate security,'' he said.

He called for full and relentless cooperation from the government and people of the state by reporting any suspicious character to the command.(NAN)

CHAN: Battle not yet over, Chukwu warns Eagles

Christian Chukwu, a former Super Eagles Coach, has urged the home-based Eagles and their handlers not to lose focus as they face Cote d’Ivoire in the return leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier in Abidjan.

The Eagles on July 6 in Kaduna thumped their Ivorian counterparts 4-1 and as the preparations for the crucial tie billed for July 27 reached fever pitch, Chuwkwu who captained the Eagles to the 1980 win of the Nations Cup in Lagos, stated that the Ivorians will come back hard into  the game and the Eagles must have to prove that their victory was not a fluke.

“It was an emphatic victory by the home-based Super Eagles over visiting Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the first match and I believe that they would do better in the return leg.

“I knew the first leg match in Kaduna was a bonus for us, but I never expected a wide goals margin. The result of the first leg marveled me.

[caption id="attachment_404858" align="alignnone" width="412"] Abidjan Showdown … Director General, National Orientation Agency(NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri (2nd left), Chief Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Mr. Stephen Keshi (3rd left) and other members of the coaching crew pose with members of the Home Based Super Eagles after their training exercise at the National Stadium, Abuja last Thursday.[/caption]

“The team had raised everyone’s hope with the first leg brilliant result and should strive not to dash Nigerians’ hope in the return leg and the subsequent matches,” Chukwu said.

According to him, Chief Coach Stephen Keshi has the right materials. “The Eagles only need  further grooming and training to make the country proud.”

Chukwu called on Nigerians to continue to support the national senior team in their building process because “Rome was not built in a day.”

“I recall that this is the first time we are participating in this competition and I want us to utilise it well and convert all our scoring chances,” he added.

He said he believed and also had confidence in the players.

Chukwu added that the Eagles would make Nigerians proud and qualify for the Championship slated for 2014 in South Africa.

 

Keshi to Eagles: Abidjan will be war

Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has demanded total concentration from his players ahead of the final leg CHAN qualifier against Cote D’Ivoire in Abdjan on July 27, noting that the match will be like war against the West African neigbhours.

[caption id="attachment_368125" align="alignnone" width="412"] Coach Stephen Keshi has[/caption]

Speaking before training commenced on Tuesday morning at the FIFA Goal Project site in Abuja, Keshi who started his foreign career in Cote D’ Ivoire, said the people are passionate about football and they will do anything to defeat Nigeria, hence the need to forget the 4-1 win in Kaduna and concentrate on the return leg.

“The win in Kaduna is history and if you have been following the media you will see that they have been making remarks that they can also beat us well. We must be ready for their antics and forget the past”.

The team is training at the Goal Project because the Ivorians had already informed CAF that the return leg will be played on artificial turf.

Twenty three players trained on Tuesday morning with only Godfrey Oboabona exempted by the coaching crew because he had had a hectic schedule with his club, Sunshine Stars. He will join his teammates on Wednesday morning, as the players battle for the 20 slots that the coach will take to Abidjan for the match.

Also on Monday evening, FC Braga of Portugal defence ace, Elderson Echejile, was at the team’s Bolton White Apartmentabode to wish his mates and the coaching crew a good outing in Abidjan.

Echejile came in at dinner time and went straight to see Keshi, before spending sometimes with most of his mates. “It’s to encourage them to excel when they play the Ivorians and I believe they can defeat them right there in Abdjan”, he said smiling.