31st July, 2014
Coach Stephen Keshi believes returning as the Chief Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles will give him the opportunity to finish what he has started, hence his desire to extend his contract with Nigeria.
Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has opened channels of communication with Keshi on the probability of a contract renewal for the Eagles job.
The Executive Committee has given the Acting President, Mike Umeh, the go ahead to convene a meeting of the Emergency Committee to approve details of Keshi’s possible re-engagement within the shortest possible time.
Speaking from his base in the USA, Keshi disclosed that
“Yes, I met with Deji Tinubu (a member of NFF board) in Lagos before heading out for the US to see my family.
“It’s my country, I am ready to serve. I have started something I would love to finish.”
However, ‘Big Boss’ Keshi quickly added the working conditions for his new deal have to be better than what he had previously.
“But I cannot work the way I worked last time, it’s not possible! All my staff, no!no!!no!! We have to be professional, everybody has to do what they are supposed to do,” the Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach said.
“I cannot be paying another staff salary, when I am not the Nigeria Football Federation. We will see how it goes. If the conditions are met, we will be there, no wahala.”
In the meantime, the NFF has disclosed to Africanfootball.com it will forward a letter of intent for contract renewal this week to Keshi.
Head of a three-man committee for Keshi’s contract renewal, Tinubu, who discussed with Keshi last week in Lagos, said: “We have made tremendous progress.
“We will first send a letter of our intent for a renewal of his contract and expect a reply from him as quickly as possible.
“This would allow us to start working on the terms of contract. We would have our terms and we know he would have his terms, but we would be working in such a way that we would arrive at an agreeable term that would suit both parties and then hopefully he signs.
“We can’t put a time limit on this, but we hope we are done with it as quick as possible considering that we have a game in September.”