Out of contract Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi, has tacitly apologized against the Nigeria Football Federation boss, Pinnick Amaju, whatever misgivings the association chief may have against him.
keshi said he bore no grudges against Pinnick as speculated in some sections of the media.
Keshi’s manager, Emmanuel Ado, in a chat with The Eagle Online, described the relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation boss and his client (Keshi) as one that boasts of mutual respect. According to Ado, any perceived “problem whether real or imagined” between them would always amicably resolved in the interest of the game and the country they both love.
He said: “Keshi has always related well with Amaju as a brother and as Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission before now. The chairman’s passion and achievements over the years bear eloquent testimony to what he is capable of replicating in his new job at the NFF.
“After the 2013 Nations Cup, Amaju was instrumental to Delta State Government hosting the team and the renaming of the Asaba township stadium after Stephen Keshi. This is contrary to insinuations being made in some quarters, that Keshi and Amaju can never work together. For the information of all, both men understand that in the interest of Nigerian football, they must ‘work together’ to move Nigeria football forward.
“The lessons of the last few months is that united we win and divided we fail. Allow me to state unequivocally that there will always be differences, but it is how these differences are managed that is critical.
“So moving forward, I expect that the board, the media, the fans and the coach would continue to rub minds on issues that will help our football, but once the coach takes a decision, he should be supported.” Ado further described as unfortunate the story in certain newspapers that Keshi called the president of the NFF a liar.
He said: “Keshi is ever decorous and will never use such word for the president of the federation. He is too cultured to use such a word. “Those who profit from sensationalism as a way of life create chaos by twisting facts out of context only to suit their own purpose.”
Ado also denied that his client was behind the arrest and detention of the former President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari. He said: “This is a blatant lie. “Who is Keshi to order his arrest? The truth is that Keshi visited Maigari and prayed for his release. “And Maigari was also instrumental in him becoming the chief coach of the Super Eagles. “In the interest of peace and for the record, I want to first thank Alhaji Aminu Maigari for his support for my client.
“And to stress that Keshi never and would never wish him any ill luck as history will remember his contributions to Nigerian football. I want to on behalf of Keshi apologise to all Nigerians and most especially the fans for the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2015 edition of the African Cup of Nations. There were problems that contributed to the failure of the team to qualify for Equatorial Guinea, which, by the Grace of God, have been largely resolved.
“We ask for forgiveness and support for the team to ensure that they get back to their winning ways. I want to assure Nigerians that we and Mr. Felix Anyansi-Agwu, the Chairman of the Technical Committee, will continue to work on both men – Amaju and Keshi – to ensure that they put all the issues that have threatened their relationship behind and to ensure that any ‘crisis’ is resolved before it becomea a problem.
“Everyone has realised that the deliberate falsehoods planted in the media by enemies of progress, who believe they are helping both men, is a big disservice to the image of both men and the federation. I am happy that everyone has realised that and are determined not to allow the situation to continue.
“And that what they need is for the Super Eagles to return to playing and winning well.” On the issue of the NFF reportedly offering his client a “slave contract”, Ado explained that he was the one who made the statement in the context of reports that Keshi was going to sign the contract without negotiations.
He said: “I made that statement that Keshi will not sign the contract until he has made an input. That contracts are not take it or leave it documents. And that only a slave has no say when his destiny is being decided. And I have been vindicated by the Federation’s meeting with us and issues that the Federation and Keshi had reservations about were thrashed out. The Federation was also very happy that those issues were thrashed out.”
Source: The Eagle Online
