In February of this year Stephen Keshi led the super eagles to
reclaim the African cup of Nations after a 19 year gap. He achieved this
by taking to the tournament one of the most inexperienced sides Nigeria
has taken to an Afcon tournament since he was the skipper of the 1984
side.
In many countries this achievement will translate into financial
rewards and great planning and structure for the team. Not Nigeria.
Stephen Keshi and his technical crew have not been paid salaries for the
last 7 months.
"It is the love that I have for my country that has kept me in this
place ever since," Keshi said to supersport.com when asked why he is
putting up with this.
"I go outside into the shops and markets and ordinary Nigerians in
the streets are thanking me and asking God to continue to bless me. It
humbles me. It makes me realise the responsibilities I have to these
people and I keep at the job. I also have a fantastic group of young
footballers, who I sincerely do not want to abandon at this moment,"
Keshi said.
As a successful coach he is not shy of suitors. "Oh I have four
offers on the table for me that will triple my wages but because of the
reasons I have given I have told those offers to please go elsewhere."
Stephen Keshi is patently unhappy with the furore that the bonus
created. "Where else in this world do you hear or read of a successful
team having their bonuses slashed? When one thinks about it like that it
shows how incongruous the whole thing looks really. Ghana players were
on $15 000 per man to beat Egypt while the Egyptians were on $25 000 per
man, yet the African Champions are being offered $5 000. That is
Nigerian football administration sense.
"My players are just determined to play in the World Cup. That is why
they really don't care so much even though they know what happens in
other countries"
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are 90 minutes away from World Cup
qualification following a 2-1 first-leg lead over Ethiopia. The second
leg takes place in Calabar on 16 November
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