Keshi: A Dangerous Precedence

1. I am a supporter of Keshi's bold approach to rebuilding the Super Eagles on the foundations of the domestic league players and supplementing with the euro-based players.
2. This support however is based on the assumption that such players are first and foremost competitive in the positions they play.
3. And in addition that the factor of their greater availability, vis a vis the euro-based players, would offer the coaching crew ample time to train and thus formulate a more cohesive team than is typically the case with the euro-based players.
4. I am however concerned by certain indications emerging from the match in Kigali. In assessing the team's performance, of the Chairman of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Green, said at least five of the foreign-based stars will be axed for the Eagles subsequent games as they failed to live up to expectations.
5. Green said: "I am disappointed at the showing of some of this our foreign players. Some of them were totally not in this game. In the same vein, Keshi said: "I am not very impressed with the performance of some players. I would not mention names but I have learnt lot from this game," “The home boys gave a good account of themselves and I must commend their guts but all together we have to return to the drawing board and there I would review a whole lot including future invitation of foreign-based players." (Source).
6. While it is imperative that a coach review's his team's performance following any match, it is important that we do not look at the Super Eagles through the false dichotomy of 'home-based' and 'foreign-based', but rather good and bad players on any given day.
7. This kind of talk can only lead to a dangerous precedence and ultimately a major impediment to team spirit. One also has to also wonder about the propriety of Mr Green's public involvement in what is the remit of the coach...
8. Let there be no misunderstanding! The use of home-based players as articulated by Mr Keshi is a viable long term strategy that has the potential to enhance competition and the quality of the national team. But it is not an end in itself, neither is it a magic wand that solves all problems.
9. For one, there must be a well formulated playing philosophy around which Stephen Keshi's decisions are made, including the choice of players to invite and the tactical organization of the team. What does this mean?
10. A philosophy based primarily on the counterattack for instance, would place primacy on the invitation of players in midfield with the discipline to seat deep in their defensive zones or the speed to translate defence to attack quickly, as well as wingers and strikers with the explosive speed to transition quickly into attack.
11. So far no definitive playing philosophy can be discerned from the games so far supervised by Keshi or players invited by him. But these are very early days...