Keshi took the reins from former international, Samson Siasia who was eased out following his failure to steer the Super Eagles to a place in the finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
In less than 16 months, Keshi led the new-look Super Eagles to victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Cup in South Africa against all odds.
The ‘Big Boss’ is now flavour of the month in Nigeria and he sat down with supersport.com for a very candid chat.
Supersport.com: Congrats coach on your good work so far with the Super Eagles.
Stephen Keshi: Thank you very much.
Supersport.com: Let’s begin on an unconventional note; a lot of people do not understand why you are referred to as the “Big Boss.” Mind telling us how you got that nickname?
Stephen Keshi; Do I have an explanation for that? (Laughs) I came in to play for Nigeria in 1991. It was a Nations Cup qualifier against Algeria.
During the game at the stadium, National Stadium, Surulere, the journalists and the fans started screaming and singing, 'Give us Big Boss; give us Big Boss.'
I tried to find out but I couldn’t. I think it has to do with the fact that when I’m on the pitch, I’m always directing and dishing out instructions to my teammates.
I always ensured that we want to win at all costs. That is me and I guess that is why I am known as the Big Boss.
Supersport.com: Who is the current Big Boss in the Super Eagles now?
Stephen Keshi: It is not easy to attain such heights as a player where you command the respect of your fellow players and even your coaches. It takes great discipline and charisma. Humility and commitment are important factors too.
Right now, we don’t really have a player like that if I am to be honest. I am still looking for the Big Boss and I am sure very soon such a player will emerge.
Supersport.com: Samson Siasia, the man you replaced once told me that coaching the Super Eagles can be likened to a “pressure cooker environment.” How have you dealt with the pressure since taking the job?
Stephen Keshi: Well, you just try to stay focused on the job. Every Nigerian is a football coach and probably an expert in the game.
They all have their own opinions and most of them believe they are always right. You listen to them and if there’s anything to make out from whatever they are telling you, you do it, but if there is none, you just let it fall aside.
The most important thing is to remain focused and know where you are going. That is the essential element that I need to have, and that’s what I’ve been doing.
Supersport.com: There has been conflicting reports about the bonus row that almost stopped the Super Eagles from competing at the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil. What exactly happened?
Stephen Keshi: The players were asking for their normal winning bonus which wasn’t there. The disagreements started from Kenya (where the Super Eagles defeated the Harambee Stars 1-0 on June 5).
After winning in Kenya and after the game in Namibia, they wanted to know what was going on with their bonuses and also get things clarified.
Two players represented the team, in the meeting to get things sorted out. They were not that satisfied (with the explanations of the officials of the Nigeria Football Federation).
So after the game against Namibia, they said they were not going to Brazil.
It took us all by surprise because after the game, the Ambassador in Namibia gave us a wonderful dinner, everybody was happy and after that the boys said 'we are not travelling tomorrow if this thing is not resolved' and that made us to miss our flight.
We had to stay for another one, two days in Namibia before leaving for Brazil.
Supersport.com: You recently attended a meeting recently with the sports minister in relation to the bonus row. What did the minister say to you at the meeting?
Stephen Keshi: Nothing much. He just wanted to know what happened. He also wanted to know first-hand, the performance of the team at the Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil. The Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh was also present at the meeting.
The minister meant well. He wanted us to project a way forward to make us to qualify for the next World Cup and stay up there among the elite of countries in football.
Supersport.com: There is a huge clamour for you to recall Peter Odemwingie back to the squad. Will you?
Stephen Keshi: I have spoken severally on this subject and I am now sounding like a broken record now.
I need to have players that want to play for the country, that want to give everything for the country and that’s it, so it’s not about saying I want to come, but how committed are you and how are you ready to go along with the other players?
Peter is somebody that I admired a long time ago even when I was not a national team coach from far wherever I’m watching the Super Eagles play.
He is a very good player and is still going to have his opportunity to come back. That’s for sure. He will have his opportunity to show Nigerians that he is here to serve his fatherland.
Supersport.com: Victor Anichebe has been in great form for Everton. Any hopes of seeing him back in the national team any time soon?
Stephen Keshi: Victor Anichebe is just like any other Nigerian player that we want to see.
I want to see him play for Nigeria, but everything depends on him. We made several requests of him. We sent e-mails to the club and the club promised us they will forward it to him.
There was never a response to that we tried to contact him in person, but it was very difficult.
If he will like to play for Nigeria again then I can come over and talk.
I discussed this with John Mikel Obi at the Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil but I’ve not heard anything yet from Mikel; we’ll see how it goes.
Supersport.com: Joseph Yobo is closing in on 100 international caps but has not played for the Super Eagles since the Afcon in February. Is his national team career over?
Stephen Keshi: He is still our captain. I can’t feature him right now, because I don’t want to bring him in and keep him on the bench.
He has done so well for this country that I will bring him in and put him on the bench, I want to bring him in and start games.
I have these young fellows (Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona) that are doing so well I cannot bring him back at this moment.
Yobo is going to come back to the team. I want to make sure that he gets his hundredth caps.
He’s a very good kid of mine. I made him captain in Namibia about 12 years ago, so he is my friend, he’s part of me.
Supersport.com: What can you report about Inter Milan midfielder, Joel Obi. He hardly played last season as a result of injuries.
Stephen Keshi: Joel Obi knows the team in and out. It’s just unfortunate that he’s struggled so much with injuries.
The last time we spoke he told me he was going through rehabilitation and all those stuff. He’s a player that I wanted to pick for the Nations Cup.
He’s a very hardworking kid; very disciplined too but he’s been injured and can’t make it to the team just yet.
Hopefully, before November he might still play one or two games.
Supersport.com: Your project with domestically-based talent continues at pace. What informed your decision to put your faith in home-based players when your predecessors refused to do same?
Stephen Keshi: I started in the home league and most of the stars today also started in the home front as well.
I recall that one of the home-based players, Gambo Mohammed of Kano Pillars missed a goalscoring opportunity against world champions Spain at the Fifa Confederations Cup and was criticised.
It sounded strange to me because great players miss chances too. It is by giving players such opportunities that they improve and gain experience.
Supersport.com: Should the Super Eagles lose to Malawi in September, it will mean failure to qualify for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil. Will you quit if that happens?
Stephen Keshi: If it’s going to make Nigeria to do better, if I leave, why not.
Nigeria is not the end of the world to coach or to work as there are a lot of countries out there that looking for coaches so leaving the Nigeria job is not a big deal.
I came from somewhere so it’s not like I’m going to be here all my life. It’s a privilege that I’m coaching Nigeria, it does not mean that, If I don’t coach Nigeria anymore, then that’s the end of me, no.
Supersport.com: Thanks coach for your time.
Stephen Keshi: Anytime my brother.
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