By Onochie Anibeze
Stephen Keshi has appreciated the call of a member of the Executive Committee of the Football Federation to appoint him Technical Director but said he would prefer to be “a field man than an office man”.

Keshi spoke from his California home: “I read Vanguard Newspaper online this morning and I appreciate the feeling of the member who wants me to be Technical Director. But I would prefer to be in the field working than to be an office man. I believe that I have got a lot to give as a coach and I would like to remain a coach at least for now.”

Samson Siasia was named coach of the Eagles ahead of Keshi who also wanted the job. And after Siasia failed to qualify Nigeria to the 2012 Nations Cup, there has been divided opinion on his future.

There are Nigerians who want him to stay on, maintaining that he was midway into building a new national team. This school also argues that changing of coaches after every competition would not help Nigerian football. Siasia also wants to be given a second chance, maintaining that he was determined to lead the Eagles well.

Stephen Keshi

Another school argues that a coach is as good as his last match and that failing to qualify for the Nations Cup was enough pointer to a bleak future under Siasia. His contract is also a case for this school. It states that he should take Nigeria to, at least, the semifinal of the Nations Cup in which he failed to qualify.

Keshi qualified Togo for the 2006 World Cup but was eased out of his job following squabbles with the football federation. But same Togo has recently renewed move to re-engage him. Rwanda, we gathered, also want the former Nigerian captain.

A member of the Football Federation Technical Committee said Tuesday that Siasia could retain his job but insisted that he must first resign to make way for another contract.