5th January, 2015
Taiwo Adelu
Seattle Sounders of USA player, Nigerian Obafemi Martins has finally disclosed the reason he called it quits with the senior national team, the Super Eagles.
The former Inter Milan of Italy star, who is currently on holiday in the country revealed that though he is still very much in form to feature for the Eagles, Chief Coach Stephen Keshi has been the sole reason he had to retire from the Eagles in December last year.
Fondly called the ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction’, Martins scored 18 goals in 39 appearances at the senior level for Nigeria. He also played two matches under Keshi in 2013, a friendly against Venezuela in Miami and a World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar, without scoring. Since then he had been overlooked by the embattled Keshi, who is out of contract with the country as he said that Martins who had been in superb form in MLS last season has had his time with the national team.
“I was forced to take the decision to quit the senior team at the time I did because the coach has shown with his attitude and action that he didn’t like my face,” said Martins, who led Eagles All Stars to play against Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s skippered BRF Team at the 1960Bet.com sponsored maiden Football For Hope at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island at the weekend.
“We may have our differences but when it comes to the national team we should put these differences aside for the sake of the country. Keshi is a coach I respect a lot but he should be held responsible for my decision to quit Eagles,” he said during the half time of the match where he scored the lone goal for the Eagles All Stars.
Despite Keshi’s action, there is no doubt that Martins had a wonderful season in the American league as he continues to shine for his Seattle Sounders side, posting a personal best of 13 goals and nine assists with series of awards to show for a fulfilled season.