It’s hypocritical to praise Amodu, Keshi after death, says Disu

Former international, Tajudeen Disu, has said that he is saddened by the belated praises being heaped on the late coaches Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shaibu, who were derided when they were alive.

Amodu died in his home two weeks ago, just three days after the demise of Keshi.

Speaking to The Guardian on the duo, Disu said he was surprised that praises could come from the same quarter that condemned them when they were in charge of the senior national team.

“While should they be praising them now after their death? This same people from the NFF never saw anything good in what they did for the growth of Nigerian football when they were alive. So, why are they now saying the good things that they have been saying about them?

“These people are not being truthful to themselves, what they are saying now is to appease the people. Keshi won the Nations Cup for this country and how was he treated afterward after he failed to qualify the country for the next edition of the AFCON? Why didn’t they look at his pedigree and probably encourage him so that the flaws noticed could be corrected for him to move with the team he was building then. They did not do that, rather he was crucified as if the faults of not qualifying rested solely on him.”

Disu, who is the chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF), Lagos branch, added, “the same treatment was also meted out to Coach Amodu, who qualified the nation for two World Cup and yet he was never allowed to take the Eagles to the Mundial.

“It is high time we started treating our own the same way we treat foreign coaches. Amodu and Keshi were badly treated; they were owed several months’ salaries when others were getting theirs upfront. And yet they did all they could to ensure that they gave their best. They were frustrated in all angles… some even vowed to resign from the NFF if they were not relieved of their jobs. That was how bad Amodu and Keshi were treated. May their souls rest in perfect peace.”