AFTER a few weeks of uncertainty, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was finally appointed the new Chief Coach of the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).In the eyes of many, Keshi possesses the right credentials and antecedents to turn around the fortune of the Super Eagles. He literally rose through the ranks, playing in the academicals and for local club sides, before breaking into the big league and eventually becoming the Captain of the Super Eagles in 1984.The new coach belongs to a generation of African football giants that took the round leather game to an impressive height during their illustrious careers. Keshi who also had a rewarding career in the foreign football leagues, turned his attention to football management before finally settling down to what has been a modestly successful coaching career. During his stint as the coach of the Togolese National Team, Keshi guided the team to its first World Cup ticket in 2005. He also made appreciable impact as the coach of the Malian National Team. Therefore, we do not expect him to be overawed by the challenges of his new assignment. The main task for him is to give the Super Eagles a breath of fresh air and ensure that Nigeria returns to winning ways at the senior level by qualifying for the 2013 African Nations cup and the World Cup in 2014. Keshi can achieve the set goals if he does away with tentative approach to preparation for competitions and draws up a workable road map. And that must be followed strictly. He has started on a good note with the friendly matches against Botswana and Zambia. And the results of the games, especially the scoreless draw with Botswana, clearly show that there is much work to be done in the rebuilding process. It is also important to make friendly matches a main stay of the new work plan for the Super Eagles. The NFF should exploit the windows for such activities and ensure that it procures Grade A friendly matches that would put the Eagles in a good stead to face the challenges ahead and allow the coaches to put as many players as possible to the test. This is not the time for favoritism and selection of players based solely on past exploits. Only players who by their current form, deserve to be called to represent the country should be given the opportunity. The players should also be ready, mentally and physically to give their all on the field of play. There can only be one boss and the era when players dictate to coaches, especially when critical assignments are at hand, is over. Discipline and patriotism must become the watchword. The new coach and his assistants should also ensure that they give the home-based players the opportunity to fight for a place in the National team. Playing for a foreign- based club side should no longer be the sole criterion for securing a place. The coaches should monitor the local leagues and other national competitions from which they could access a ready pool of potential players for the National team. The coaches should give foreign-based and local players equal opportunities to wear the National Jersey.Needless rancour and boardroom-politics should also be done away with. Nigeria's football administrators and the coaching crew must close ranks to deliver good results to the teeming fans. We concede that the challenges ahead are enormous and the responsibilities and expectations are high, but with the right attitude by the coaches, players and the administrators, Nigeria can once again become the dominant force in African Football.
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