I’ll change Mikel’s style – Keshi
By Tony Ubani
SUPER Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has pleaded to Nigerians not to crucify embattled Chelsea star Mikel Obi but to protect him at a time that others are breathing down on him.
“Mikel needs the support of Nigerians. If Oyibo people are killing him, we should not crucify him back home. He needs the support of Nigerians. He is a Nigerian and will not forget that Nigerians supported him when he was in need”, the Eagles gaffer said yesterday while speaking to Sports Vanguard exclusively in Lagos.
The Chelsea midfielder’s error led to Liverpool’s first goal in Chelsea’s 2-1 loss at home on Sunday. He has been castigated for the defeat.
“I’ve told him to move ahead and put that behind him. He has to fight and prove to everybody that he is indeed a great player. I made the same mistake while playing for the Eagles in the Nations Cup in 1992 against Senegal . I got a pass and was turning around when a Senegalese charged on me and collected the ball and they did a one-two which resulted in a goal against the Eagles. But, I re-doubled my efforts and scored the winning goal. I knew that the Nigerian Press were baring their fangs on me but when I scored the goal, they talked more on my leadership capabilities”, Keshi said.
The big boss, as Keshi is fondly called also said that he was going to bring out the best of Mikel Obi in the Eagles.
“I’m a demanding coach and I am going to bring out the best from Mikel. He has to take risks and shoot at goal. He has everything going for him as a good holder, passer of the ball but he has to shoot and score goals. I need that from him, maybe, other coaches were contented with his role in the midfield. There is no rule that he must not score goals. See how Alex Song moves around forward and back in Arsenal. Mikel needs our support to do well. He can’t excel when his own people are crucifying him”, Keshi emphasized.
Keshi spoke to us on Eagles players, his Mafia role in the Eagles, the Nigerian League and his expectations from Nigerians. It is our exclusive. Only in Sports Vanguard. Stay with us.
