Much ado about Keshi’s N15m demand

Several meetings between the NFF and the coach have not yielded any result as the coach is reported to have put before the federation near impossible demands to be met by the federation before he would return to his post.Keshi was appointed Super Eagles coach on November 2, 2011, few weeks after the sack of […]

Several meetings between the NFF and the coach have not yielded any result as the coach is reported to have put before the federation near impossible demands to be met by the federation before he would return to his post.
Keshi was appointed Super Eagles coach on November 2, 2011, few weeks after the sack of his predecessor and team mate, Samson Siasia who had failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea.
Although only a few people gave him any chance, less than two years in the saddle, he led the Eagles to their third AFCON title in South Africa. Nigeria won the Nations Cup title in 1980 and 2004.
He would later qualify the national team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil after beating the Antelopes of Ethiopia home and away. Although his team could not meet the target set for it by the minister of sports, Mr. Tammy Danagogo, the team performed better than it did in 2010 in South Africa. In Brazil, Eagles crashed out at the second round after losing 0-1 to France.
Mixed feelings trailed Eagles ouster from the 2014 World Cup with most Nigerians blaming the team’s exit on lack of technical depth. Therefore, while some said Keshi should give way for a more experienced and knowledgeable expatriate tactician to come and tinker the team, some said he should be given another opportunity to build on the foundation he has laid so far.
It has been difficult for Keshi to sign a new contract with the NFF because apart from his ‘numerous demands’, members of the NFF Executive Committee have been too busy with politicking and the crisis that erupted after the World Cup to give the contract issue the attention it desires.
Although negotiations with Keshi have been kept away from public view, it was reported that Keshi’s demand for N15m per month as salary and other conditions to be met by the NFF have been the major encumbrance.
It is said not satisfied with the way the NFF managed his previous contract, the coach is insisting on having a better deal. He wants the NFF to give him more money and free hand to tinker the team.
NFF which has lost so much in terms of image and money owing to the present crisis that has engulfed it, is not in any mood to pay Keshi N10m not to talk of the N15m he is demanding.
However, Keshi’s confidants have said he is not returning to his duty post until his demands are met. It is said apart from the N15m per month, Keshi is asking for a decent accommodation in Abuja, a befitting official car from the NFF, payment of one of his assistant coaches and less interference from the technical department of the NFF. Out of these, his demand of N15 per month has not gone down well with some Nigerians who feel he is not being patriotic.
A member of the NFF technical committee, and former international, Garba Lawal told SHOT! that the amount of money Keshi is demanding may be too much for the NFF to pay.
He said accepting to pay the amount is one thing and being able to pay consistently is a different thing completely.
Lawal went further to advise Keshi and the NFF against signing any contract now that nobody knows who is going to be the next president of the football federation.
He said even as time is fast running out, everything about the contract should be put on hold pending the complete resolution of the raging crisis in Nigerian football.
“I am not in a very good position to comment on the contract issue because even as I am a member of the NFF technical committee, I cannot confidently say I know what is happening.
“Like any other Nigerian, I keep reading on the pages of news paper what is going on. Keshi asking for this and that and NFF saying this and that.
“Well in my opinion, NFF and Keshi should put on hold everything about the contract. Nobody is sure of who is going to be the next president of the NFF. So if a contract is signed and the next person comes in and oppose it, what will happen?
“To avoid further problems, the contract with Keshi should be delayed till the present NFF crisis in solved and a new president emerges,” he advised.
A former colleague in the Super Eagles who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed shock that Keshi is asking Nigeria to pay him a whopping N15m a month to handle the national team.
“I am surprised that my friend Keshi is asking for as much as N15m to coach the Super Eagles. Where does he think NFF will get that kind of money to pay him?.
“I don’t think it is proper for him to demand for that huge amount of money. If he insists on being paid N15m, I will advise NFF to look elsewhere for a competent and less expensive coach.
“Honestly, if NFF struggled to pay Keshi N5m, I don’t see them paying him N15m without any fuss,” he stated.
Also contributing to the debate, former Super Eagles midfielder, Moses Kpakor said what Keshi is demanding is not out of place so he should not be condemned by anyone.
He said the job is a professional one and Keshi has the right to demand for any amount just as he said it is left for the NFF to negotiate with him.
Kpakor added that NFF have not thrown the doors open for other coaches to apply for the job which to him is an indication that they are more comfortable with Keshi.
“Personally, I don’t think what Keshi is asking for is too much. This is a professional job and what he is asking for is not final. The NFF can discuss with him in order to arrive at what they can afford to pay.
“After all, NFF have shown clearly that it is Keshi that they want and that is why they did not throw the job open when Keshi’s last contract expired. Instead they should sit down with Keshi and negotiate,” he advised.
Kpakor also said Keshi is a World Cup coach and Africa’s number one so his value must be high.
“Don’t forget we are talking about a World Cup coach and Africa’s best. I don’t think it will be fair to expect Keshi to remain on N5m a month,” he said.
For now, the debate over Keshi’s contract is on and divergent views are being expressed but one thing which is obvious is that the former Super Eagles captain is over 80 per cent back in the saddle.
Already he has submitted to the NFF the list of players for the AFCON qualifiers against Congo DR and South Africa. So what is remaining now is how soon he will sign another contract.