No Jamboree For June Games —Keshi

Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi says he would not invite 30 players for the double header qualifying games for African Cup of Nations and World Cup, stressing that it will amount to a jamboree to invite about 40 players, which may make the camp rowdy.

Keshi disclosed this in a chat at the camp of the Super Eagles insisting that June will be a very busy month for the team. But he said that does not mean the camp will be flooded with so many players in order to avoid distractions. The coach noted that it is very important to maintain a peaceful and disciplined atmoshere in camp, believing that a large number of players in camp, may prove difficult to achieve.

“I don’t think it will be proper to invite 30 – 40 players because of the games in June. It will be like a jamboree to have so many players, it will look like a community or the camp will look like a village square. No. I don’t want that in the camp because I want the players to have total concentration and discipline, which may be difficult when we have so many players in camp” Keshi said.

He further stated that the issue of where the team will play is not a burden to him, saying what is important to him is the sound health of the players in camp and their abilities to play to the high level needed to achieve good results in the competitive games in June.

“Where the team are being handled by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, that is not my headache.

“But how the players will maintain good physical condition in camp and on the field so that they can play to their optimal to give Nigerians the desired results we all want from the team” Keshi added.

—Francis Achi, Abuja