The long awaited busy month of June has finally come and for Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, tomorrow marks the beginning of a real test since taking control of the driver's seat of the senior national team.GOWON AKPODONOR, who is in Calabar for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Brave Warriors of Namibia, writes that a clear victory will mean a lot for the coach, who has been under attack in the last few weeks after leading the Eagles to two defeats in friendlies against Egypt and Peru.THOUGH Coach Stephen Keshi has said that he is not under any form of pressure from any quarters to excel with the national team, for some keen soccer-loving Nigerians, such declaration may count for nothing if he failed to grab the maximum points against Namibia in tomorrow's Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.'I agree with Keshi that tension or pressure is a natural thing in life, but he has to win this match for the public to be reassured that he has what it takes to pilot the national team to safety,' former international, Humphrey Jebba, told The Guardian yesterday.'The game against Namibia marks the beginning of our qualification to the Brazil 2014 World Cup and many Nigerians will 'eat Keshi raw' if the Eagles fumble in Calabar on Sunday,' he added.A confident Keshi declared yesterday after the morning training session at the U.J. Esuene Stadium that even though excellence was his ultimate desire as the handler of the Eagles, there was nothing like pressure coming from any quarters.He said: 'Tension or pressure is a natural thing in life. When you leave your house for a function you are under pressure to do it well. Whenyou are driving, you are under pressure to get to your destination. So life itself is full of pressure of all types, but no NFF official has put me under pressure.'For Jebba, who led BCC Lions of Gboko to the Cup Winners Cup fame in the early 1990s, such declaration coming from Keshi some hours to the crucial match in Calabar is an indication that the coach is confident of what he is doing. 'It is good for a coach to speak with confidence if he knew what he is doing. But as I said, Nigerians will not take anything short of victory from him against Namibia on Sunday.'Don't forget that many Nigerians are still angry over the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the last African Nations Cup. We knew how Samson Siasia was sacrificed for Keshi to come into the team after that failure. So, it will be a good start for Keshi to lead the team to victory against Namibia. It will not only serve as an assurance to Nigerians, but also secure Keshi's job. I am saying this because some people somewhere are already 'throwing stones' at him (Keshi) for leading the team to two straight defeats against Egypt and Peru,' Jebba said.The Eagles will tackle Namibia tomorrow in Calabar, then fly to Blantyre to meet with the Flames of Malawi on June 9 and return to Calabar to face the Amavubi of Rwanda in the return leg of the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier on June 17.Though his level of confidence seems to have increased going by the caliber of players on ground, Keshi is mindful of the challenges ahead of him.Before leading the team to Lima for the last friendly against Peru, which Nigeria lost 0-1, Keshi told the players and his kitchen cabinet to see the month of June as the beginning of the end.He said: 'We have been working quietly; some believe in us, some may not, but the time has come to show that we are the best for this job by getting the results in three major competitive matches in June. After that, we can beat our chest and look ahead.'On paper, the Super Eagles have an edge over the Brave Warriors of Namibia. Even Keshi feels that his side should be able to crush the Namibians in tomorrow's tie.'In our time, matches against teams like Namibia were not discussed in terms of whether we will win, but rather in terms of how many goals we will score and that is what I want us to return to in the new Super Eagles.'The 'Big Boss' also added: 'They say we are the super power and Namibians are minnows, those are only words, and until we show it on the pitch, we will just be living in a fool's paradise.'The Cannan City, as Calabar is known, has hosted many international matches involving the national teams in the past, but for the Cross River State Commissioner for Sports, Patrick Ugbe, tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against Namibia deserves special attention.'Calabar is the home of sports and hospitality and we have to support the Super Eagles to win the game,' Ugbe, an ex-broadcaster, told The Guardian during the week.'We have been preparing and waiting for this moment to come for us to show Stephen Keshi and the Super Eagles that we are solidly behind them.'The month of June will be very busy for the Super Eagles and as the coaches and the players will be doing it on the pitch, the government and good people of Cross River State will be providing the support. We have done it before and we will continue to do it for our national team,' Ugbe stated.Also optimistic of a good outing tomorrow, Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, said yesterday that the team would not disappoint Nigerians. He added: ' We will use the game to make up for the last two defeats even thought they were friendlies against Egypt and Peru.
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