Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, has described as absurd and shocking reports that the team's technical crew and by extension the Nigeria Football Federation, has abandoned AFCON 2013 hotshot, Emmanuel Emenike to his fate in Russia, after he copped an injury during the tournament.
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Reacting to media reports on the matter, Alaiya, said the truth of the matter is that an official of the team, in person of Team Secretary Dayo Enebi Achor, has been in constant touch with the player since he left for Russia after Afcon, and they still spoke as early as last Saturday.
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"In fact, Mr Achor has been the link between the team and all the players all these while. The coach only talks to them directly because he wants to know their state of health and wellbeing. Incidentally, the staff of the team in question is also an employee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). So it's shocking when you read reports that Emenike has been abandoned.
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On Head Coach Stephen Keshi's effort to reach Emenike, Alaiya declared that the phone number that the player personally gave to the Keshi has not been functional. When Keshi discovered that number was not going through, he called his national team mate, Ahmed Musa, to help get Emenike's new number but Musa says Emenike refused to give him his new phone numbers. That is why the coach is stuck on this matter.
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"If you want to talk to your player and he does not want to talk to you what then do you do. I think if Emenike has personal issues against any member of the team, he should come out and say so instead of whipping up public sentiments at a time concentration should be on the game against Kenya in Calabar,"
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Alaiya quoted Keshi as saying at the weekend.
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Keshi has said last Wednesday during the team's weekly media parley that he has made several attempts to reach the player to no avail. That was before Emenike granted an interview to a website insinuating that he has been abandoned by the team's crew and the NFF.
Thew we should just believe all that he has said. Emenike should take things easy too. Keshi will definately resolve things himself
That's very true. Stephen Keshi is the only one that can talk to him right now. Emenike was outstanding in South Africa