Oct 8, 2014 16:48:31
The Nigeria coach has accused the Villareal man of turning down the opportunity to play for his
country and would never be invited again

Nigeria interim coach Stephen Keshi has told journalists to stop asking the reason for the
absence of striker Ikechukwu Uche from his team as he disclosed that the Villareal man turned
down an opportunity to return last month.

Keshi said that he would never beg Uche to play for the Super Eagles in a very comprehensive
explanation regarding the shut out of the player at a media parley on Wednesday. Uche had been
ignored since the end of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations which Nigeria won.

With his top form in Spain, he had been expected to make the squad to the World Cup but was
again overlooked while Keshi took along strikers in poorer form. The issue of Uche's recall came
up last month when Keshi announced his team to take on Congo and South Africa without the
Yellow Submarine man, who took to Twitter to deny asking to be begged to play for his country.
Today, Keshi opened up on the issue extensively.

“I don’t want to talk about the issue of Ikechukwu Uche again and I don’t want anybody to ask
me about him again,” Keshi said while responding to a journalist’s question.

“Before [last month’s] game against Congo, I did the list. I didn’t even want to do the list because
I never knew I would come back to handle the team. I told them I am not the coach that [the
NFF] should do the list but they said no, I should please do the list.

“I did the list and Ikechukwu Uche’s name was on the 25 man list I did. He (Ike Uche) didn’t even
know about it because I did not tell him. Uche then called me four days later and said “Coach
how are you? and I said boy it is good to hear your voice.” We just spoke like brothers and that
was it.

“I then told [Team] Secretary, Dayo Enebi, to ask if the players have South African visas and the
ones that don’t have he should take their passports ahead of time to process their visas.

“He then asked Ikechukwu Uche and Uche said why is he asking him and why was he asking for
his international passport.

“I hate to speak without Uche not being here or if you want to call him put him on speaker to
know who is telling lies or not. And please nobody should ask me about Uche again.

“Uche said he needs somebody to talk to him about something they said about him as being a
bad kid and they said he did something wrong.

“Then I said okay [Dayo Enebi] take his name out. I am not going to beg Uche and I am not
going to tell Daniel [Amokachi] to beg Uche, for what?

“We have played for this country for over 20 years and nobody ever begged us to play for the
country. We are the ones always begging to play.

"So please let this be the end today. Don’t ask me about Uche. We have Obafemi Martins and
others (doing well) and nobody is making fuss about not being invited.

“What is wrong with him? Why do people want to tear this team apart,” Keshi queried.

The Super Eagles are without the injured pair of Victor Moses and Michael Babatunde as they
head to Khartoum. Nigeria face a must-win pair of matches against Sudan if they hope to qualify
to defend their African title in Morocco next year.

http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4687/2015-afcon-qualification/2014/10/08/5167703/i-am-done-with-ike-uche-keshi-blasts?ICID=HP_BN_1

Keshi has really lost it. Rare

Mr Keshi pride goes before a fall

Swallow your ego n pride n call d young man back. He's good

This useless pride n ego of yours could be d reason u have been failing lately

Mr Keshi pride goes before a fall
Swallow your ego n pride n call d young man back. He's good
This useless pride n ego of yours could be d reason u have been failing lately


To you Uche, don't wait until u are begged before u serve your fatherland

Keshi should STFU and prepare for his test on Saturday.

OK o,
Anything less than 2wins and its over. These are ur players u have stubbornly stuck with. Good luck cause anything less than 2 wins and all that explanation for excluding an in form striker will come back and bite.

easyelliot:
OK o,
Anything less than 2wins and its over. These are ur players u have stubbornly stuck with. Good luck cause anything less than 2 wins and all that explanation for excluding an in form striker will come back and bite.

gbam.

iconize:
Keshi should STFU and prepare for his test on Saturday.

I tired oh! instead he go focus he dey fine right n wrong.

Can the media stop bringing this news to the public! We are tired of the same story and news all the time.


The guy doesn't want to play for his country , and people doesn't see anything wrong with that all they see is Keshi's Ego . The only thing that has made this lad relevant is because the super eagles lack strikers , I wish there is competition in that role , I don't think any nairalander will take him serious , or any of the news related to him.

I am done with keshi - mee

Abeg free dem

since we don't have any sharp attacker we should just pray and look up to God.

The Boss has spoken.

.

Keshi own don dey too much, calm down o

Watch your choice of words keshi cos Nigeria might soon be done wif you.

Spot on Keshi!, no player is bigger than our National Team. For Pete's sake Uche is not the greatest footballer of all time,, why the pride?.. What happens to serving your fatherland with pride?.
It's time we stop clamouring for ike, and move onto the next ones

He is done with uche and NFF is done with him even if he wins in khartoum. Ask Pinnick and quote me later.

When 2 elephants fight,its d grass dat suffers.

I'm surprised by the comments I'm reading. No be d same old dat was performing wonders and helped elevate the national team from their earlier shameful FiFa ranking? The fact he may have been under performing now doesn't make him a rotten egg.

BTW, WTF is Ike Uche feeling like. I wldn't say much at this time time he comes out with his own press statement.

So seriously na so we nor take qualify go defend our trophy shey?

Bull crap.
UCHE or no UCHE,my own b say mak i qualify go nations cup

gradually Nigerians are alsogetting fed up with Krshi

I would take anytin Keshi says with a pinch of salt. He has shown previously his arrogance knows no bounds.

Uche is well within his rights to decline any invitation dat involves working with a coach dat treats him with disdain and disparages him in public.

Patriotism doesnt equate to stupidity.

Nawa 4 Keshi o

This is what I call unprofessional-ism on the part of Keshi. If you have grudges with your players, must it be known to newsmen who will only help you to blow it out of proportion for their own selfish reason.

To hell with keshi and his publicity stunt

G

The boss decision should be respected
Whether he has lost it or not

.

ucyoma:
Mr Keshi pride goes before a fall
Swallow your ego n pride n call d young man back. He's good
This useless pride n ego of yours could be d reason u have been failing lately


To you Uche, don't wait until u are begged before u serve your fatherland

You were there right?