Aderonke Ogunleye
Keshi To Okpala: NFF Never Shared From Eagles Money
Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has described as
ridiculous a report in a national daily at the weekend which quoted former Assistant Coach, Sylvanus Okpala as saying that the money given to the team by the Cross River state government after last year’s Nations Cup triumph was shared by Nigeria Football Federation officials.

Speaking from Abuja after reading the story, which quoted Okpala as saying
the money was taken from those of officials and players in order to ensure peace, which has now eluded the team, Keshi described the comment as not only untrue but a calculated attempt to pitch him against his employers.

“I want to assume that Sylvanus was misquoted but if not then there is no
truth in such a claim, because the NFF has never asked or shared from any
monies given to the team by supporters and well meaning Nigerians and state
governments.

Keshi also added that he as the Head Coach does not handle money and could
not have been the one that paid Okpala, for him to ask questions about
short payment.

“We have our rules here in the team and the team administrator normally liaises with the Captain and other relevant authorizes before such monies are doled out. Indeed, the Cross River
Government was very clear about who gets what and the money was paid direct to the account of all the players and officials”.

He said why Okpala, maybe angry with the NFF over his present employment
status, blackmail will go nowhere in correcting perceived wrongdoing. “I
don’t know why the media and some of our friends like to drag me into all
these controversies when we should be concentrating on preparation for the
World Cup.

Maybe the name Keshi just evokes some form of joy in their minds
and the only way to appreciate it is to put me under the searchlight all
the time, it’s not fair on me please”.