Why we picked Keshi - NFF

In spite of the spirited and repeated denials by
the chairman of Technical Committee of the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),
Barrister Christopher Green, that the
federation has not picked a new coach for the
Super Eagles, members of the executive board
have zeroed in on Stephen Keshi as the
favoured candidate for the job.
Disclosing this to Daily Sunsports, a member
of the board, who does not want his name in
print, said that what informed the board’s
decision was the fact that since the Hawks of
Togo’s former handler contested the position
with sacked Siasia, it has decided against
inviting fresh applications from other
coaches.
He further noted that though the board will
ratify Keshi on Wednesday as Eagles head
coach, there were strong indications that it
would be on acting bases, revealing that the
board was looking into the option of hiring a
foreign coach for the Eagles.
“Well, Keshi is the likely person to replace
Siasia. His choice was based on the simple
fact that he attended the interview with
Siasia. We want to avoid inviting fresh
applications from other coaches. We just
want somebody to start working on acting
capacity until we finally resolve on the
possibility of hiring a foreign coach. For now,
we have settled for Keshi,” our source noted.
Asked why the board sacrificed Siasia despite
divided opinions of Nigerians to his favour,
the board member noted that his greatest
undoing was his arrogance to the technical
committee members and most especially the
clause in his contract.
Admitting that the board was harsh in
inserting such draconian clause in Siasia's
contract, he, however, blamed Siasia for not
appealing for the removal of the clause,
stressing that the desperation for the job
could beclouded his meticulous and detailed
scrutiny of the contract document.“The
reports and recommendations of the
technical committee were very unfavourable.
They said that Siasia was very arrogant. He
talks down on all members of the committee
and that was why they were unanimous in
recommending his sack.
“He specifically gave example of an incident
when the technical committee wanted him to
remove injured Chibuzor Okonkwo since he
has not being playing for Heartland FC, but
he refused. During the match against Guinea,
it was obvious Siasia was biased and
sentimental in his selections. He fielded his
boys,” he noted.
On conditions that would have saved Siasia
from sack, the board member said: “I can tell
you the general feelings of most members was
that if Siasia had resigned immediately after
the match, he would have been retained, but
his over confidence was his greatest undoing.”