FORMER goalkeeper of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, David Aigbovo has joined the legion of ex-footballers who believe Stephen Keshi should not accept a fresh contract from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the Super Eagles' handler.
A number of coaches including Shaibu Amodu, Kashimawo Laloko, chief Adegboye Onigbinde, as well as 2010 World Cup star Taiye Taiwo, had in the wake of Nigeria's failure to pick the ticket to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) under Keshi advised the former Togo coach to bow out honourably, a decision also supported by Aigbovo.
"If I were in his shoes, I will resign honourably. As brothers, we have told Keshi on the need to toe the path of honour and resign honourbly. You quit when the ovation is loudest.
"You cannot say because the presidency brought you back in the first place and you want to continue even when it was obvious that the Super Eagles have failed this time under your guidance by not getting the AFCON ticket.
"He (Keshi) needs to see the writing on the wall that it is time to go. Keshi has tried his best for Nigerian football and we have to give him kudos for what he has achieved since he took over the team.
"So there is no basis for him to continue as the Eagles' coach. He too must appreciate the feelings of Nigerians that the team will be absent at AFCON 2015 and forget about the Eagles job for now," said Aigbovo who is an officer of the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFON).
The former Bendel Insurance FC and Sharks of Port Harcourt goalkeeper however, said the football authorities should forget about hiring a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, given the presence of experienced trainers that the nation could still boast of at the moment.
"We don't need a foreign coach, we have a lot of high profile coaches in this country who can handle the Super Eagles very well if given the chance. We have somebody like coach Adegboye Onigbinde.
"We keep talking of hiring a foreign coach I think because of the situation we are now, but if the authorities can send some of our experienced coaches abroad to update their knowledge on the game, they will come back better with something to offer our national team," said Aigbovo who won the rested CAF Cup with Shooting Stars in 1992.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the NFF board is considering offering Keshi a fresh contract in the new year, as the choice of going for a foreign trainer has been discarded based on the stand of the presidency.
Sources indicate that the NFF may have reached out to Keshi who is holidaying with his family in the United States of America (USA), for discussion on a new contract.
Some top shots at the Glass House however, are not favourably disposed to the return of the former coach of Mali on the premise that the coach is as good as his last result.
It will be recalled that Keshi coached Nigeria to the win 2013 AFCON in South Africa while he also led the Super Eagles to the second round at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the first time after 16 years.
Caption: Keshi on duty at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.
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Dauda Azeez claims 6th Governor's belt
Dauda Azeez of Lagos State on a Boxing Day claimed the sixth Governor’s Belt, at the 59th Monthly Saturday Boxing Show organised by the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF).
Azeez had outpunched Suleman Tetteh of Ghana in a 49kg bout, while his heroics earned him the prize for the best boxer of the day at the Molade Okoya-Thomas indoor sports hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
In another international bout, National Sports Festival reigning lightweight champion, Otto Joseph triumphed over Musah Ramon Lawson also of Ghana in their 64kg (light welterweight) challenge.
Sensational Nike Salami made it a treble for Nigeria following her victory over another Ghanaian opponent Abigial Quartey in a 54kg contest which was the second female bout of the day, after Yetunde Odunuga of Lagos had defeated Evelyn Adebayo of Ogun State in their 60kg challenge.
Home boy Taiwo Abiodun defeated Soliu Akinbode of Ogun State in a 52kg contest, as Samuel Ebohen defeated Rasheed Kazeem also of Ogun State in their 81kg bout.
In the last bout of the day, Lukman Lawal, who replaced Isaac Yusuf triumphed over Gabriel Francis in a split decision in a heavyweight clash.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of LBHF, Mr Olawale Edun disclosed that henceforth, the Champion of Champions Belt, known as the Governor's Belt will now be named after the outgoing
Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola for his contributions to the development of sports in the state.
"I thank governor Fashola for his support. Since the introduction of the Governor's Belt he had made sure he's always here with us," Edun said.
Meanwhile, an elated Fashola who was also at the ring side said he will raise fund for the project saying he was impressed with the standard of the monthly competition.
"We have sustained this competition over the years and I will also constitute an endowment fund raising committee for the next five years. I will be making a personal donation of N10 million to this course.
"We are going to sponsor our amateur boxers who about to turn professional because I consider this as a good development," Fashola said.
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Dauda Azeez (fourth left) after being decorated with the Governor's Belt by governor Fashola.
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