An associate of Villareal striker Ikechukwu Uche has said that the player was denied a spot in the Super Eagles list released by Stephen Keshi because the call he made to the Nigeria coach was considered late. The Uche associate, who was privy to the telephone exchange between both men, spoke with The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity.
He said the underlying difference between the player and Keshi that denied Uche a call-up was because the coach considered his call very late.
Uche spoke with Keshi two weeks ago before the 30-man provisional list was released.
He said, “When Uche called, Keshi told him he had no problem with him. Of course Uche raised the issue of tactical indiscipline on the part of the striker that had been reported widely in the media but he dismissed it as a matter that was over blown by the media.
“And the key thing, he wanted to know why Uche did not call since he was dropped and had to wait until April. He made it clear that all other players including (Joseph) Yobo and Osaze (Odemwingie) called to iron out their own issues. And then the conclusion was that it had become too late to make any change.”
Uche has not played for Nigeria since winning the 2013 Africa Nations Cup with Nigeria in a competition held in South Africa. The player has been ignored despite outcry from Nigerians and the striker being the highest scoring Nigerian in the 2013/14 season. The Villareal player scored his 13th goal on Sunday to further distinguish himself as the country’s top hitman this term.
Osaze, who had been sidelined since 2012, was recalled after the coach said that the player had apologised for his comments on the coach and several Nigerian officials via Twitter. Yobo has also not played for Nigerian since the 2013 Nations Cup.
It was not possible for The PUNCH to speak with Keshi on Monday as his mobile telephone was switched off.
*Uche knows the politics in Nigerian football,he shouldnt have 'wested' time in calling Keshi....it is a pity that it is like this,i think Ikechukwu is a damn good player!
Is he good in bed?
ReplyDeleteLol. Anze
DeletePls dont tell me about bed......
DeleteCrying.........
Do you really have parents or did you drop from the sky? I can't imagine a woman laboured to carry you for 9 months,delivered you,pampered you while growing-up.Probably taught you right from wrong.Did her best to raise you properly only for you to become an adult(I hope so) to name yourself 'RED VAGINA" on social media? You must belong to that generation of vipers? God help you.I pray you find your salvation soon.Cos' sincerely, if you die like this,you'll wake up on the other end with that guy with a pitchfork.May God help you.
DeleteAnon 6.28,wrong. It means dat in ur lang? Do u know what it means in my lang? Bloody HyPocrite. Hell awaits u n urs.
DeleteEzewanyi are you ok?hope all is well.
DeleteThat's the problem with Nigeria, that's why we're taking one step forward and two steps back. Instead of us to put players that can at least help us to reach qtr finals we're busy removing them cos he did nt kiss his ass
ReplyDeleteThank u, your head is correct.
DeleteI totally disagree. Don't get me wrong Uche Kalu is a prolific player, but he's the kind of player that do well in his club but peform badly for his country. Yes he plays top flight football for his club but I thank God he wasn't included in the list. Uche, is arogant and plays bad football for the super eagles.
DeleteI would have loved to see him in the squad, but the coach knows best, and he still has a chance of making it into the squad, before it is reduced to 26 man squad from 30
ReplyDeleteYour comment will be visible after approval
SDK,did you say "damn good player"? You need to see this boy's intelligence in front of goal.I still find it disheartening & very baffling that nigerian sports & football stakeholders would allow Coach Stephen Keshi apply sentiments to deny Nigeria's un arguably most prolific striker in recent years from going to the 2014 world cup.Need I remind all of us that Ike Uche's goals helped us qualify for this world cup from the first round.
ReplyDeleteWhatever reason Keshi's giving, is not enough to deny the young man a place in that team,especially now that he's in such good scoring form.What are we doing specifically to protect our young players from coaches like Keshi who seemingly employ sentiments in their selection methods.
I observed that besides making passing comments,no one has actually come forth to make a case for the young man & I think that is not fair to a young man that had always made himself available to serve his father land.The stakeholders,should find out the real issue & do all they can to resolve it.
The way I see it, Keshi has nothing to loose.If we get dumped out of the world cup due to a lack of sharp attackers,he'll just move on to the next job while millions of Nigerians suffer psychological anguish.
Kechi can not go to world cup with all the Nigerian player thats just the truth. Only but 11 player and 3 subs will play a football game at any point in time, so should he take the whole Nigeria to the world cup? He is the coach, he know these players and their abilities more than us, lets give kechi a free hand. All we want is result. Its not in our powers to say who he takes to the world cup and who he doesnt take.
DeleteWith the way u r talking,it simply shows u dnt knw anything abt football.Check out the England team...
DeleteRight now at the moment Ik Uche and Emenike r the best strikers
DeleteSDK,did you say "damn good player"? You need to see this boy's intelligence in front of goal.I still find it disheartening & very baffling that nigerian sports & football stakeholders would allow Coach Stephen Keshi apply sentiments to deny Nigeria's un arguably most prolific striker in recent years from going to the 2014 world cup.Need I remind all of us that Ike Uche's goals helped us qualify for this world cup from the first round.
ReplyDeleteWhatever reason Keshi's giving, is not enough to deny the young man a place in that team,especially now that he's in such good scoring form.What are we doing specifically to protect our young players from coaches like Keshi who seemingly employ sentiments in their selection methods.
I observed that besides making passing comments,no one has actually come forth to make a case for the young man & I think that is not fair to a young man that had always made himself available to serve his father land.The stakeholders,should find out the real issue & do all they can to resolve it.
The way I see it, Keshi has nothing to loose.If we get dumped out of the world cup due to a lack of sharp attackers,he'll just move on to the next job while millions of Nigerians suffer psychological anguish.
Gbam 6:20..well said. This guy is very gud, I fear 4 9ja witout him. Osaze shakara is much abeg n yobo I tot u retired?
ReplyDeleteMrs Davido
We have so many strikers that are equally good if not better than him in the team already. That he is on fire this season does not guarantee a successful world cup. Not everyone will make the list.
ReplyDeleteAll we want is GOOD FOOTBALL! And not who is or isn't on the list.
Shout out to Efe Ambrose my big brother may GOD make you bigger.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA(GBN).
Paragon7ven.
We have so many strikers that are equally good if not better than him in the team already. That he is on fire this season does not guarantee a successful world cup. Not everyone will make the list.
ReplyDeleteAll we want is GOOD FOOTBALL! And not who is or isn't on the list.
Shout out to Efe Ambrose my big brother may GOD make you bigger.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA(GBN).
Paragon7ven.
We have so many strikers that are equally good if not better than him in the team already. That he is on fire this season does not guarantee a successful world cup. Not everyone will make the list.
ReplyDeleteAll we want is GOOD FOOTBALL! And not who is or isn't on the list.
Shout out to Efe Ambrose my big brother may GOD make you bigger.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA(GBN).
Paragon7ven.
Alloy Chikezie, I guess you don't watch football. Where have you ever seen a 26 man squad?
ReplyDeleteNigerians are so emotional abt football,wait till they loosing and keshi will be remembered of this blunder.ike uche is a good player
ReplyDeleteHow can any one ask if he is good in bed when we are talking about how he was dropped from the team? The problem i have with Nigerians is bad belle. It is too much!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for that question. Let me ask a better one.
DeleteIs he PROLIFIC in bed?
Ask uche jombo Na, if he's good in bed or not. After all they once dated b4 she married oyinbo husband. Thank me later.
Delete