Mikel, Moses key to Eagles’ success –Keshi
BY EMMA NJOKU and BUNMI OGUNYALE
Super Eagles gaffer Stephen Keshi has stated that the duo of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses remain crucial to Nigeria’s campaign at this year’s World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Eagles’ manager was reacting to insinuations that since both players do not play regular football at their respective clubs they may not be in good form for the World Cup. But Keshi insisted that their experience would count a lot.
“It’s quite unfortunate that Mikel and Moses are not playing regularly for their clubs at the moment and I cannot influence that. I was a victim of the same circumstance when I was playing in Belgium, but I still retained my place in the national team,” Keshi recalled.
“Mikel and Moses are not kids in the game of football. So, they don’t need to be taught the rudiments of the game. The truth is that I need them in the team because they’re quality players,” the Big Boss explained.
Keshi, however, stressed that discipline, commitment and determination were the criteria for any player to make his final cut to the World Cup in June.
“I need players with discipline, commitment and determination to succeed at the World Cup in Brazil. No matter how good a player may be, without those qualities, you cannot succeed in the game,” he remarked.
Meanwhile,Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee Chairman, Barrister Chris Green has stated that only the best players will represent Nigeria in Brazil even as the gaffer gets set to defend his world cup list before the committee next week.
Keshi will appear before the technical committee by first week of April to defend his choice of players to face Argentina, Bosnia- Herzegovina and Iran at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Green disclosed that contrary to speculations of a 30-man list, Keshi will instead present a 35 -man provisional list for his committees scrutiny, adding that the NFF will not influence his selection.
“Keshi may not be presenting a 30-man list as speculated, but a 35-man list. And we expect him to defend the inclusion of every player in the list because the World Cup is not a tea party.
“We are monitoring our world cup opponents, we have got some tips about them, we have people monitoring them to get more information about them.
“The World Cup is the greatest football competition in the world and we are working hard in the federation to make impact.
“We therefore expect him to bring forward the best legs the country has, but we would not influence his selection, so whoever he chooses, he must defend before the committee next week.”
Super Eagles gaffer Stephen Keshi has stated that the duo of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses remain crucial to Nigeria’s campaign at this year’s World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Eagles’ manager was reacting to insinuations that since both players do not play regular football at their respective clubs they may not be in good form for the World Cup. But Keshi insisted that their experience would count a lot.
“It’s quite unfortunate that Mikel and Moses are not playing regularly for their clubs at the moment and I cannot influence that. I was a victim of the same circumstance when I was playing in Belgium, but I still retained my place in the national team,” Keshi recalled.
“Mikel and Moses are not kids in the game of football. So, they don’t need to be taught the rudiments of the game. The truth is that I need them in the team because they’re quality players,” the Big Boss explained.
Keshi, however, stressed that discipline, commitment and determination were the criteria for any player to make his final cut to the World Cup in June.
“I need players with discipline, commitment and determination to succeed at the World Cup in Brazil. No matter how good a player may be, without those qualities, you cannot succeed in the game,” he remarked.
Meanwhile,Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee Chairman, Barrister Chris Green has stated that only the best players will represent Nigeria in Brazil even as the gaffer gets set to defend his world cup list before the committee next week.
Keshi will appear before the technical committee by first week of April to defend his choice of players to face Argentina, Bosnia- Herzegovina and Iran at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Green disclosed that contrary to speculations of a 30-man list, Keshi will instead present a 35 -man provisional list for his committees scrutiny, adding that the NFF will not influence his selection.
“Keshi may not be presenting a 30-man list as speculated, but a 35-man list. And we expect him to defend the inclusion of every player in the list because the World Cup is not a tea party.
“We are monitoring our world cup opponents, we have got some tips about them, we have people monitoring them to get more information about them.
“The World Cup is the greatest football competition in the world and we are working hard in the federation to make impact.
“We therefore expect him to bring forward the best legs the country has, but we would not influence his selection, so whoever he chooses, he must defend before the committee next week.”
No comments:
Post a Comment