Last week, Nigerian football stood still for one of its own. It was the unveiling of the new Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. Keshi was not exceptionally dressed at the ceremony but the incident that took place made his unveiling unique compared to what was obtainable in the past. The unveiling offered a platform for reconciliations. The smiles on the faces of stakeholders who stormed the media centre of the National Stadium, Abuja, tell it all. Keshi could not hide his feeling despite taking the job of his friend and brother. From indication, he might be getting all the support needed to succeed as Super Eagles head coach. Keshi’s unveiling came barely one year after Siasia was accorded the same respect at the same venue. Above all the, occasion offered a platform for genuine reconciliation between Siasia and the NFF after the former withdrew his one billion naira suite against his former employers. Howvere, ‘Big Boss’ as Keshi is fondly called, does not want to be distracted. He has been longing to handle the Super Eagles even before he took over the Togo’s job. He was one of those interviewed in 2008 alongside Samson Siasia, Sunday Oliseh, Shuaibu Amodu but the latter was given the job despite the fact that Siasia, Keshi and Oliseh came first, second and third respectively.Shortly after Lars Lagerback left the team after a dismal performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it was agreed that an indigenous coach should be saddled with the responsibility, to build the new Eagles around home-based.Interviews were conducted for both local and foreign coaches amongst which were Sven Goras Ericsson, Bruno Metsu. The duo of Samson Siasia and Stephen Keshi also participated but Siasia was given the job.Information gathered revealed that though Siasia came first in the interview, the football house preferred Stephen Keshi. According to them, he was more matured and will be able to manage the team better. Public outcry was Siasia’s saving grace for landing the job in 2010. This was one of the reasons why Siasia claimed that he was sabotaged by the NFF because he was said not to be wanted in the first place.Inability of Siasia to qualify the team for the 2012 African Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea paved the way for a new coach and the NFF was quick to contact the former Mali coach. Even when sports analysts suggested that the position should be thrown open and advertised, the technical sub-committee of the NFF quickly recommended the longest serving captain of the Super Eagles, hence bringing to mind the much talked about ‘rejected stone’ that finally become the cornerstone.Football experts believe that Keshi is a square hole in a square peg considering his exploits as a footballer and coach of the Togolese national team. Keshi made history by becoming the first and only coach to qualify Togo for the World Cup in Germany 2006. No wonder former Super Eagles coach, Festus Onigbinde rated him higher than the former coach, Samson Siasia. He noted that Stephen Keshi remains the best indigenous coach. For Onigbinde, they have made the best choice in Keshi.Super Eagles players did not waste time to react to Keshi’s appointment. They are reacting based on experience. Dickson Etuhu was the first to react. He toed the same line with Onigbinde. The Fulham of England midfielder claimed that Keshi was the best Nigerian coach he had worked with.Etuhu said though he had not known much about Keshi but stated that with the little time he had worked with him, the coach had created a very great impression on him. “I think he is a very good guy; everybody knows about him; he speaks well, speaks like a true leader; he knows what he wants, he is clear with his information which is very important for any coach. This is the first time I have experience that under any Nigerian coach. I am really looking forward to working with him more in the nearest future.” The player who was part of the Super Eagles squad that played at the 2012 world cup in South Africa refused to play for the team under Samson Siasia, even when he was visited in his club because he was ignored for sometimes.Football fans are not left out in this. Michael Arems a football fan do not believe that Keshi is the best. He said qualifying Togo for 2006 in his 10 years of coaching is not good enough, coupled with the fact he was sacked by his employers (Togo and Mali).  “What happened in Mali, he did not win one single match in Angola 2010 and why was he not given a second chance after Togo’s woeful performance at the World Cup if he is too good?”Kolawole Oluwasegun, however, disagreed with Chief Onigbinde on the rating of Siasia and the selection of Keshi. He said the CAF instructor is fast becoming more like a politician than a football administrator. He said Siasia was given a role to build a team but because he failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup, he was seen as a disaster. “I can remember that he granted interview a year ago that Siasia floored Keshi in the interview but today, it is a different tune. Keshi must distance himself from all these politicians if he hopes to succeed and their time in the NFF is even up.”Meanwhile, Keshi said he would not promise anybody heaven on earth but would give his 200 percent commitment to make Nigeria return to the glorious days. He, however, claimed that he could not do the job alone. “I cannot do it alone; everybody has a role to play. It was not a difficult decision for me to come to Nigeria. I had many offers but I have respect for my country. I am not going to promise you that I am going to take you to Heaven, but I will give my 200 percent; I will give everything I have to see that the team move on to the highest level that we all deserve”.

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