NFF unfair to Keshi – Okpalla

Former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Sylvanus Okpalla has picked holes in the manner his former boss, Stephen Keshi was sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation.

The former Nigeria international who was guest of Vanguard Sports Desk yesterday said the NFF were unfair in the treatment meted out on Keshi, insisting that ‘’they should have allowed him serve out his contract.’’

Okpalla who is still out of job since his disengagement from the Super Eagles in 2013 said, “there is no law or FIFA rule that says that the football federation cannot sack a coach. But if they must do that there are obligations they must meet. Also, there is no law which states that a coach cannot seek  another job when under employment.

Okpalla whose disengagement by the NFF resulted in his dragging the football house to Court of Arbtration for Sports, said the NFF was in a hurry to see Keshi out.

Keshi

“If you seek my advise, I would have suggested that they should have allowed him(Keshi) to serve out his contract. This is a game that has rules. So, when you sack, you do the needful.

“The smartest thing to do was to allow him go for the Ivory Coast job, if Keshi got it then they(NFF) would have reminded him of the contract he had with them, and then tell the Ivorian FA how much it would cost them to have Keshi. That would have been cool money for them.

Now that they have sacked him, I will advise they go for mediation. If they do that, they will spend less. But if they go to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, they are going to spend more money.”

Okpalla said the manner the NFF threw Keshi away was hasty, untoward and disrespectful. “It appears they have had Oliseh in mind for a long time now. They should have been patient to see Keshi serve out his contract. They should have built Oliseh up to the end of Keshi’s contract.

All they needed to do was to make Oliseh follow the team by watching all their matches. He did not have to come face to face with Keshi or with the team. All he needed to do was to come during Super Eagles matches and stay in the VIP box and see how the team play. His takeover of the team would have been smoother than now that he does not know much about the team,” Okpalla said.

He was, however, quick to point out that “Oliseh should not be judged in a hurry. He has just been given the chance. I hope he does well because every coach wants to prove his mettle. I knew him as a player. But as a coach, I can’t say anything about him. That does not mean he won’t make a good coach. To succeed he requires the support of the NFF and Nigerians in general.”

Okpalla spoke on several key and burning issues in Nigerian football. It is our exclusive and will be served ONLY on our pages. Stay with the best!..

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