NFF, Keshi must avoid legal tussle - Onigbinde, Disu

Former Nigeria coaches, Adegboye Onigbinde and Tunde Disu, have advised the Nigeria Football Federation and erstwhile Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, to resolve their differences amicably and avoid going to court.

Keshi has written to the NFF, seeking an apology and N1bn damages for defamation of character after he was sacked by the football body on July 5.

In separate telephone interviews, Onigbinde and Disu agreed the impeding legal battle might distract the NFF and consequently affect the performance of the Super Eagles.

Onigbinde said, “This is an issue between Keshi and his former employers; it naturally should have nothing to do with our football. Going to court will not stop our football. But it is advisable they avoid such confrontation for the good of the game."

“I would have been in a good position to determine who might be right or wrong in their matter if I knew the content of their contract. If the contract had a clause that Keshi should not apply for another job while he was employed, and he signed it, then he must have signed himself into slavery."

“I’m not sure I understand what it means when the NFF and Keshi disagree on which players to invite to the Super Eagles. When I was the coach of the team, back in 1984, I didn’t have the luxury of calling on overseas-based players. We didn’t have many of them in that period except Andrew Atuegbu, who came from the USA."

“I used home-based players mostly in my matches even in 2002; that was how players like Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and a few others came into the national team. But things have changed now, and Keshi might not know that such a clause was included in his contract."

“But if the dispute really gets out of hand between the two parties, blame the administrators for not managing the issue properly.”

Disu also agreed that the NFF did not manage the crisis well, noting that the football body was too hasty in dismissing Keshi.

“The NFF could have adopted other ways of dealing with him if they were certain he actually breached the contract,” Disu said.

“FIFA doesn’t want anyone in the football family going to the ordinary court; every case must be treated at the Court of Arbitration for Sports. But I don’t expect them to go as far as that; I will advise them to resolve everything without the impending legal battle.

“I believe what Keshi wants is to regain his respect after the NFF dismissed him in a rather unceremonious manner. I’ll expect the Director-General of the National Sports Commission to wade into the matter before it further degenerates into an embarrassment for everyone."

“If it continues this way, it will become a distraction to the NFF and it will affect the national teams in one way or another.”