Keshi: I am not at loggerheads with NFF over N30m salary arrears

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has reacted to a newspaper report to the effect that he was at loggerheads with the Nigeria Football Federation over an outstanding N30 million due to him.
The amount, according to the story, is Keshi’s salary for six months.
But Keshi has said the story was not presented in the right light.
The Big Boss, as Keshi was fondly called in his playing days, said he understands the financial position of the federation and does not have any salary dispute with the Aminu Maigari-led board of the NFF.
He added: “In fact, the board, and by extension the Sports Ministry, have been very supportive since I became the national coach about a year ago.
“Our friends in the media must cross check facts and not sensationalise things because we are at a crucial period of preparation for a major tournament.
“Not that I don’t need money but the nation takes precedence.
“Money will come at the right time but let’s work first and we will get our dues.”
Asked about the final make up of the list of foreign-based players for the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup, Keshi said the media should be patient till early next week when the list will be made public.
He said: “Only then will we know the number of home-based players that will make the Faro, Portugal camp and also the list of the foreign-based players for the camping exercise.”
He however said any Nigerian player who is of quality has a chance of making the final list for the tourney.
He said current form and not names will be the yardstick for picking players for the tournament.
In a related development, Keshi has said he turned back Lobi Stars Bassey Ezekiel because he came to camp late, even after his club has released him early for the national assignment.
Ezekiel came to camp only on Tuesday night and was promptly told by Keshi to return to his club as there was no room for late-comers in the run-up to the AFCON 2013 championship.
The pleas of the player did not receive favourable responses because officials of his club in Makurdi told the technical crew that he had been released early and should have been in camp.
The Media Officer of the national team, Ben Alaiya, quoted Keshi as saying: “We are trying to build a very disciplined squad for the Nations Cup and we are a bit surprised that an home-based player who is making a first appearance will decide to report late when even his mates who have stayed over a year with us still respect arrival dates.
“We can’t condone that and we hope when next he gets an opportunity he will know that time is of essence.”
The player has since left the Bolton White Apartment camp of the team for Makurdi.