Okocha drums up support for Keshi

Former Super Eagles  captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha is drumming up support for national team coach, Stephen Keshi ahead of Nigeria’s first round 2013 Africa Nation’s cup qualifier against Rwanda.

Nigeria face Rwanda over two legs in the first round of qualifying with the first leg billed for February 29 in Kigali. Keshi has started early in his preparations, inviting a slew of domestically based players to camp in Abuja and Jay Jay believes it’s a move in the right direction.

“There are good players in the (domestic) league and I think (Keshi) should be praised for looking towards the home based players,” Okocha told SuperSport.com.

Local coaches in Nigeria have been criticized in the past for allowing themselves to be influenced but Okocha says former internationals should allow the coach do his job without any interference.

“A coach is paid to take decisions. All of us (ex internationals) are not coaches; we might have played the game at a very high level but we are not coaches.

“At the end of the day, it is just the coach’s team and with all due respect, we have to allow him do his job,” Jay Jay stressed.

The former Paris Saint Germain and Fenerbahce midfielder however hinted that he would be disposed toward handing pieces of advice to Keshi privately when he sees it necessary.

“Keshi is my friend and as a friend, I could decide to call him up and speak to him about certain issues but it is left to him to decide whether or not he wants to take my advice,” he said.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Rwanda in the second leg of the 2013 Africa nation’s Cup qualifier on the weekend of June 15-17.