Nigeria's coach Stephen Keshi has praised Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel for his spiritedness despite calls from many quarters claiming national team coaches are afraid to bench the player.

Keshi has not dropped or substituted the player even in the face of dwindling performances with both club and country and has now spoken glowingly of the midfielder.

“Mikel brings a lot of professionalism to the team,” Keshi told SuperSport.com. “He’s a fighter. He hates losing with a passion. “In training sessions, it’s the same – always professional and always serious minded.”

“I hate to say this but it seems some Nigerians don’t like thinking about the past because the Mikel that is criticized so much today is the same Mikel that was praised by almost all Nigerians during the 2013 Afcon in South Africa,” said Keshi.

“Has he suddenly become a bad footballer? I think we need to understand that no human being can perform at the same level everyday.

“We must learn to be patient with our players and coaches. I don’t have any problems with Mikel or any of my players,” he said.

Keshi also dismissed side talk that he was afraid of benching the Chelsea midfielder even though he is regularly placed on the sidelines by Blues manager Jose Mourinho.

“That is not true. I left Mikel out of the team for seven months before I recalled him,” the 52-year-old said.

“Nobody is bigger than the team. If you are not giving one hundred and ten percent, you will have no place in the team.

bigt2:
Fighter indeed! No wonder he is in Mortal Kombat 7.

I'm sure they will make him the slowest character if the put him there.Infact,the game no go sale.

msmon:




Mikel? A fighter? Maybe in is room, or Keshi see what everyone including Morinho can't see.

Lol,wetin you wan make Keshi do ni?The guy can pay Keshi's salary for a year.

“We must learn to be patient with our players and coaches. I don’t have any problems with Mikel or any of my players,” he said.

Daninya1:
Enough of all this... Mikel is a professional.. Yes of course.. So what?.. Don't professionals sit on the bench??..
If a player is not an his best, he should be benched..
What mikel needs is competition.. He is too lax for my liking.. Keshi should give other players the chance to show what they can offer...
The last time I checked finidi George was discovered in Malta..
Even the unbencheable Mikel was scouted in Norway...
Scouts should be sent all over the globe.. We can get a better replacement for mikel..

buskie13:
See what GEJ has caused.....Keshi is not a coach...when we have more eligible players....kalu uche is there...Keshi is collecting bribe