Keshi denies pronouncing NFF’s technical committee dissolved

Keshi denies pronouncing NFF’s technical committee dissolved
The Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has reacted to the news making the rounds quoting him as saying that he bypassed the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation because it was dissolved and there was no committee to report to.
Keshi said he was quoted out of context.
He said: “What I said at the media chat was that I followed due process in the submission of my list to the NFF Secretarial and that the committee at that time was not seating.
“How can I talk of dissolution of a committee, which in the first place I didn’t set it up?
“Those who want to maintain constant squabble in Nigerian football should be careful because I have had enough distraction of this nature since coming on board.”
Keshi, again, called for total concentration for the game against Kenya, which he said is what is on his mind now.
He requested all stakeholders to unite in the drive to pick a 2014 World Cup ticket instead of causing quarrels among key officials of football in the country.
Similarly, the NFF Technical Committee Chairman, Barrister Chris Green, said there was never a time the committee disagreed with the team list submitted by Keshi.
Green, however, said that individual members of the committee who have misgivings are free to air them but they should not drag the committee into any controversy.
“We work as a team and we could not meet at the time the list was submitted but that does not mean that the list was not duly approved by relevant authorities,” he said.
Meanwhile, national team officials have conceded players to the four club sides representing Nigeria in continental outings this weekend.
The clubs are Rangers International of Enugu and Kano Pillars in the CAF Champions League, while Heartland of Owerri and Lobi Stars of Markurdi will represent the country in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Keshi said demand for players will be respected, especially as the players are expected back in camp by between Sunday and Monday next week.
Rangers, which travels out Thursday night, were still battling late into the evening to secure goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim’s clearance for their away game.
“Once they get the clearance from the NFF, I will fly to join them in Lagos and we will be on our way,” Agbim said on Thursday evening.
Kano Pillars duo of Papa Idris and Ubale Munir are already in Kano, while Heartland and Lobi Stars players will join their teams on Friday.