Sunday 19 August 2012

KESHUI BLUFFS MINISTER: Eagles won’t be distracted

Super Eagles handler, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has assured soccer-loving Nigerians that he would do everything within his capabilities to qualify Nigeria for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup holding in South Africa and then he would try and have a shot at winning the trophy.
Keshi, while reacting to an online story claiming that the Nigeria minister of sports, Bolaji Abdullahi issued the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) an order to win the 2013 Africa Nations Cup even if it will cost Keshi his job as the Eagles Chief Coach, told SportingLife that that would amount to distraction and confusion in his team if care is not taken.
Part of the story on the website reads: “Sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi put down the ultimatum that Nigeria has been ordered to win next year’s Africa Cup of Nations even if it means that Coach Stephen Keshi is fired to achieve this”.
Keshi, however, told SportingLife that, “In as much as I don’t believe this story, the Honourable Minister has the right to charge any sport in the country to succeed. I regard this, if it is true, as a motivation to bring the best in us and this should further fire us up to win our matches against Liberia which I believe is the most important task before us now.
“My only fears are that if such pronouncements are not handled maturedly and reasonably it may bring unnecessary pressure and confusion to the team. We have almost achieved what we have set out for ourselves and this declaration from the Minister may set us back and backfire. So, we need encouragements for us to concentrate on this campaign of being at the Nations Cup. 
"My only fears are that if such pronouncements are not handled maturely it may bring unnecessary confusion and distraction to the team. But like I said, we are focused and determined to book a ticket to the finals of the 2013 Nations Cup and we are preparing for the first leg match away to Liberia where we are targeting a good result that will make the return leg in Nigeria a mere formality. After we qualify for the Nations Cup in South Africa we can now concentrate on how to do well in the competition.
 "I am particularly happy with the Nigeria Football Federation who are fully behind this team and are doing their best to help us achieve our aim of qualifying this team for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup in South Africa. I am very sure with the support and prayers of Nigerians and with hard work and mother luck on our part, we will be in South Africa next year”, Keshi assured.  

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