Stephen Keshi
Nigerian-born football manager, Stephen Keshi has applied to coach Togo national team, five years after he historically qualified the Sparrow Hawks for their first ever World Cup at the Germany 2006.
The 49-year-old former Super Eagles captain returned to coach the team in 2007 before leaving to manage Mali between 2008 and 2010 and then returning to Togo for a brief spell early this year.
Togo is currently without a head coach after Frenchman, Thierry Froger stood down in the wake of the team’s elimination from the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Indigenous assistant coach, Tchanilé Tchakala handles the team in the interim and is also one of the top favourites for the post.
“We have received a multitude of applications from around the world. Among the serious candidates, one can find Europeans and Africans,” Togo Football Federation (FTF) spokesperson, Amavi Patatu said today in Lome.
“In this lot, is obviously the name of the current interim coach of the Hawks, Tchanilé Tchakala, and former coach Stephen Keshi who led us to our first World Cup,” he said.
The return of Keshi stirs mixed feelings in the West African nation, with fans divided on whether to adventure with the interim coach, bring in a new hand or give the Nigerian another chance.
“Keshi is a great coach, he has done a lot of things for us here in Togo, but I don’t think many Togolese will be enthusiastic about his return because there is the general feeling here that Keshi has done his best and has nothing more prove,” Joachin Anani, a Lome-based sports journalist told SuperSport.com.
“Despite what some people feel or say, there is one evidence – Stephen Keshi is the only coach that has brought a revolutionary change to our football, so I think it’s better to deal with the devil you know than the angel you haven’t seen,” Hypolith Ajoura, an Abidjan-based Togolese and member of the Sparrow Hawks supporters club said.
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