The REal Truth behind the Sack of Super Eagles Coach - Stephen Keshi
7 minute read
Stephen Keshi was sacked as Nigeria coach on Saturday after a
committee of the Nigeria Football Committee put together a damning
report that recommended his sacking. completesportnigeria.com was able
to obtain the report.
It’s quite lengthy, please read:
IN THE MATTER OF APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT INTO THE LES ELEPHANT OF
IVORY COAST BY MR. STEPHEN KESHI ( HEAD COACH OF THE SUPER EAGLES OF
NIGERIA) AND OTHER BREACHES OF HIS CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.
REPORT BRIEF: The President of the Nigeria Football
Federation, representing the Executive Committee and Management referred
to the Disciplinary Committee for investigation and adjudication an
allegation reported widely and in particular in the official website of
the Ivorian Football Federation that Mr Stephen Keshi applied and sought
employment in the vacant position of Head Coach of the Les Elephants of
Ivory Coast and was consequently shortlisted among 58 others that did
apply for the job while he is still an employee of the Nigeria Football
Federation having a two year unexpired contract as Head Coach of the
Super Eagles. The Nigeria Football Federation also stated that the said
publication embarrassed it as well as the Nigerian populace. They
claimed that they were not owing the coach any arrears of salaries or
emolument and that the coach is being paid as at when due. They further
buttressed that they fear that they could no longer trust the coach as
his action was unwarranted. They further gave instances that in 2013 the
said coach minutes after the Super Eagles won the Nations Cup in South
Africa, resigned his appointment even when his contract was yet to
expire. That it took the intervention of the former President of Nigeria
and the former President of Senate for him to reverse his decision.
They also alleged that standards in the team were compromised and that
the coach has not used the best of his skills and commitment to develop
the game. They stated an instance when he without the knowledge of the
Technical Committee nor the Technical Study Group brought in a player
Gabriel Okechukwu under circumstances not clear to the federation into
the Super Eagles team and made him to put on the iconic No. 10 jersey
only for him to be kept as reserve in a match that we needed to use the
best of our players. They stated that on further enquiries they
discovered that the player had not played football for any notable team
in country or beyond. In fact they concluded that the player was favored
and or smuggled into the team when in fact he had not played for any of
the football leagues in the country or even abroad despite the
avalanche of better talented players.
HEARING : Mr. Stephen Keshi was invited to appear before this
panel in respect of the allegation on the 23rd of June, 2015. In his
testimony before the panel, Mr Stephen Keshi denied the allegation and
further stated that neither he, his agent or anybody acting on his
behalf did not apply for the vacant position in the Les Elephants of
Ivory Coast. He did not back his statement with any evidence.
ISSUES TO BE DETERMINED : If Stephen Keshi, his agent or
anybody acting under his authority applied for the vacant coaching
position in Les Elephant of Ivory Coast when he has a two-year running
contract with the NFF. Whether Stephen Keshi was right by applying for
the vacant coaching position or if it breaches his contract with the NFF
or international best practices. If Stephen Keshi has acted competently
by inviting a non league player Gabriel Okechukwu to play for the Super
Eagles.
ISSUE NO. 2 Mr Stephen Keshi has a two-year contract with the NFF which commenced on 1st March, 2015 and ending on 28th February, 2017. During the period already spent in the contract, NFF has fulfilled all its obligations in the contract and has not fallen short in any aspect of the contract. Consequent upon the above it will be said that MrKeshi was wrong in applying for another job.
ISSUE NO. 3 From the facts given and evidence of the fact that Gabriel Okechukwu was invited from a non-league football club that only existed by name whereas there are a number of talented players who play in the leagues thereby compromising his position and failing in his duties in flagrant breach of Clause 5.8 of his contract of employment. He also did not consult and there is no evidence suggesting that he consulted with the Federations Technical Study Group in the selection of players invited to the Super Eagles in breach of Clause 5.4
CONCLUSION: From the conduct of Keshi it is easy to conclude that he secretly was seeking employment from another federation. This conduct is unethical and unprofessional . He has by his conduct demonstrated that he is not capable of being trusted and has breached Clause 4.3 of his contract with the NFF. His conduct as demonstrated negates all international best practices and norms and has not displayed the highest sense of dedication and professionalism at all times during the tenure of his contract thereby breaching Clause 5.1. By applying for the vacant position in the Les Elephant, he has expressed his willingness to engage in other services which is in conflict with his present job and has not devoted all his time and attention to the service of NFF during the term of his contract with the NFF thereby contravening Clause 10.2.4 of the contract. It is said that a contract is an oral or written, express or implied agreement specifying terms and conditions under which a person consents to perform certain duties as directed and controlled by an employer in return for an agreed upon wage or salary. Whether stated or not in a contract, both the employee and the employer owe the duty of mutual confidence and trust. Similarly in the case at hand Keshi has breached the mutual confidence and trust imposed on him by the contract with NFF by applying for the vacant position in the Les Elephants of Ivory Coast without seeking the consent of his employers. It is important to note that Stephen Keshi through his agent applied to coach the Les Elephants of Ivory Coast just two days before the Super Eagles crucial AFCON qualifying match against Chad. It can be said that Mr Stephen Keshi if employed by FIF would have abandoned the Super Eagles in the middle of the tournament or he would have approached the game lethargic. That his action for applying for job in FIF while in the employment of the NFF has clearly put him in the position of not being competent and able to achieve the set goals of his contract. He has also manifested by this act that he is not satisfied with his job and contract thus looking for greener pastures.
CONCLUSION: 1.StephenKeshi by his conduct and or that of his agent is clear that he is not capable of achieving the objectives set out under Clause 5.6 of the contract of employment. He has also breached the provision of Clause 10.2.4 of the contract of employment by engaging in any other business of soliciting or looking for greener pasture while he has not deliver on 5.6. He is in breach of clauses 5.4 and 5.8 of the contract of employment which violates schedule one of the contract i.e( b ) and ( c ) as above.
RECOMMENDATION : We recommend that the Head Coach Mr. Stephen Keshi is in breach of the contract of employment hence same has become voidable. His contract should be terminated summarily in reliance with Clause 4.3 of the contract Never miss our updates again. Download our Android app by clicking here Submit Your Email Here, to get our updates first for free. Remember to verify the Mail that will be sent to you. Follow us on Twitter @loadedcrew & like us on facebook @Loadedteam
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