Reject NFF Deal, Onigbinde Counsels Keshi

Taiwo Adelu

FIFA and CAF Instructor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde has told out of contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi that he is at the liberty to accept and reject the new deal as proposed to him by Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

Onigbinde, who turns 77 this Thursday told P.M.NEWS Sports early today that though he has not seen the details of the new deal the NFF wants to give Keshi. All he knows are what he has been reading on the pages of newspaper, he added.

“I don’t think we can force Keshi to accept what does not pay him, but my advice to him is to study the contract very well before accepting the deal. If what I’m reading in the newspaper is anything to go by, I think he should be very careful. A contract that has the benefit shifting too much to the employer is not too good; it will make the employee to be at the mercy of the employer. So Keshi should be vigilant,” Onigbinde said.

It was gathered that the NFF has now offered Keshi a two-year contract effective from 1 March 2015 with him having to meet several targets. He is also required to sign a code of conduct, or else the deal is off.

Keshi at the weekend said he had received a new deal, though he was far from impressed with what was on offer. Keshi took over in November 2011 and his initial contract with the NFF ran out after last year’s World Cup in Brazil, where Nigeria reached the second round stage.

As caretaker coach, he endured a turbulent 2014, in which he was sacked by the NFF and only reinstated after intervention from President Goodluck Jonathan.