23:21
WORLD CUP 2014 COUNTDOWN…
Receives Nigeria Pitch Award
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, admitted yesterday that the squad he is taking to the World Cup in Brazil next month is beginning to have semblance of Nigeria's 1994 generation under the watch of Dutchman, Clemens Westerhof, both in character and form.
Speaking in Lagos monday, shortly after he was presented with the 2013 Nigeria Pitch Award (Best Coach category), Keshi said the bond and attitude displayed by his present Super Eagles may see the team surpass the second round achievement of the 1994 squad.
"The character and bonding my players are displaying both on the field and in the dressing room is really good and it shows that they mean to achieve something at the World Cup in Brazil. I am equally very excited that all Nigerians are praying and wishing the Super Eagles well at the World Cup. This is something, I think is driving the players not to disappoint," stressed the former Togo and Mali gaffer.
While confirming that the task before him in Brazil was not his alone, Keshi praised the valuable support of his backroom staff and the Nigeria Football Federation.
"Everyone keeps talking of the 1994 team but it was not done by just Westerhof. That success came through collective efforts of coaches, journalists and all stakeholders. I believe if we can get together like before, we sure can go very far," he noted.
Also throwing lights on his 30-man provisional list, the Super Eagles boss dismissed critics who are alluding to the presence of several injured players in the team.
"When I started hearing of injured players in my team, I called (Austin) Ejide to find out the truth and the goalkeeper was as surprised as myself. He said he did not know the source of the fathom injury. It was the same with (Nnamdi) Oduamadi. In short, that very day I called him, he was getting ready to player for his club which he did later. It was only (Ahmed) Musa that was injured which our doctors considered minor. Musa played last weekend. I don't really feel happy people wishing our players injured, that is not nice at all," he cautioned.
Keshi who admitted not to have seen his players since after the friendly with Mexico in Florida, USA, believes that the friendly with Scotland (on May 28) and other trial games during the pre-World Cup camp would enable him and the coaching crew know whether there is need for additional players.
He refused to be dragged into thinking about his clash with Argentina during the group stage.
"Right now, my mind is on Iran and not Argentina. After that we can then look at Bosnia before the last group match with Argentina. My first two games will determine what my game plan with Argentina will look like but right now, I don't want to be distracted with talks of Argentina and Messi," concludes the Eagles gaffer.
Speaking at the occasion, Matchmakers Consult Managing Director, Shina Philips, said the brief ceremony was organised to give the award winners the opportunity to receive their trophies and plaques in a ceremony and environment akeen to the elaborate main award ceremony held in Calabar on November 16 last year.
He also stated that decisions on winners were made by close to 100 voters spread across the 36 states of the nation making the award very credible and widely accepted.
Keshi received the award for the Coach of the Year (2013) while Jelili Ogunmuyiwa was honoured as the Referee of the Year (2013). Paul Bassey got the Special Recognition in Football Award for his invaluable contributions to the growth of sports journalism in Nigeria and Africa.
The second edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards will take place later in the year.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
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