by Mark Bassey

 

Stephen Keshi’s representatives, have made it clear to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), that the coach will not sign what they have termed as a ‘slave contract’.

The NFF said on Tuesday, that they expected the 52-year-old to put pen to paper on a contract extension this week, but his agents have said Keshi will not be pushed into accepting terms.

Keshi’s media assistant, Emmanuel Ado, told Goal: “We are ready for give and take, but not a slave contract. We will not sign a slave contract that does not take care of [Keshi’s] interest.

“You media [don’t even know the worth of the coach], I will surprise you. Keshi is bigger than 10 million Naira. Keshi is not a 5 million or 10 million Naira coach and he will not sign a contract of such value.

“A club in Angola has offered Keshi a monthly salary of $120,000 (19.4 million Naira) recently but he has not taken it. So what is 5million or 10 million Naira to him.”

Keshi is reportedly pushing for a deal between N10m – N15m a month and NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire, is confident that both parties will reach an agreement soon.

“Keshi has not told us anything around 15 million Naira, I don’t know where this is coming from. I’m not a part of the small panel put together to speak to him but I know that there’s nothing like 15 million,” Olajire said.

“We have no doubt that we are going to come to a mutual agreement which is what the committee has been mandated to present but I will not be able to go into any details about the terms and conditions.

“But having given us a written expression of interest, Mr Keshi is definitely desirous of retaining the position of head coach of the Super Eagles and will be able to come down to the level of the NFF, realizing of course that we are not a multi-billionaire organization.”