VANGUARD SPARK MAGAZINE Jan. 2014 | Page 15

SWIPE THE VEXING KESHI QUESTIONS By Paul Umukoro Soccer Buzz Ozil apologizes for not applauding Arsenal fans after City game Wenger still dreams of Luis Suarez Tony Sanabria close to joining the Gunners Emenike scores 6th league goal Tottenham sacks manager Villas-Boas Kelechi Iheanacho quits Super Eagles for Man City I had set out to entitle this month's column Diary of a football traveler (whatever that means). I wanted to use the column to talk about very interesting experiences as I jumped in and out of planes in the course of my football assignments. I had wanted to talk about my new gait as I received accolades over Nigeria's double barrel achievement of winning the FIFA U-17 trophy and qualifying for the world Cup. I wanted to talk about all these and more, but decided to focus on the current situation, the vexing Keshi question, one in which the media has latched on and is not ready to let go until the Eagles board their plane to Brazil. The question comes in different forms. “Sir don't you think that the way we played against Ethiopia, though we won, that we need to strengthen our technical bench?” Or, “ Sir don't you think it will be counterproductive to employ a foreign coach to destabilize Keshi and his colleagues now that they have done a fine job to qualify us for the world cup? Supers and Eagles retain Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Championship title Cristiano Ronaldo opens Museum with extra room for the Ballon d'Or Van Persie to miss eight United matches with injury SPARK 28 SPARK 29