Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has revealed his joy at being able to convince some key players of the home based Eagles to delay their Europe moves till after the CHAN Cup next month in South Africa.
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Keshi said in Abuja Wednesday that players like Sunday Mba, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Benjamin Francis and Solomon Kwamba were almost too certain of leaving for clubs abroad when the transfer window opens in January, but that he had been able to convince them to stay till after CHAN.
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"It is difficult to keep these players back home from going to ply their trades in Europe because they want to enhance their careers. We cannot stop them because our league is not very bouyant", an elated Keshi said.
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"I have begged them to shelve their going abroad till after the CHAN cup in South Africa in January and they have all agreed to stay and play for their country before making their next career move," Keshi explained.
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The Big Boss who won the African Nations Cup as a player and as a coach said if the established home based Eagles are allowed to go in January, Nigeria may not be strong enough to challenge for the CHAN trophy.
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He said the job of raising a strong team for CHAN is made more difficult by the fact that our league has been on break since October adding that the players lack the sharpness they were noted for.
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"The other teams have the advantage of picking players from a running league but we are working very hard to ensure that we knocked the boys into shape and in competitive mood before the championship", he quipped.
That is true. That would be a distraction for all Manchester supporters. Keshi has to make those boys fin.
Stephen Keshi has done quite well with the handling of the home-based eagles and i hope he continues that way.