By Akinwale Kasali
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorounmu, has come to the defense of Late Super Eagles Captain and Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, over allegations of bribery levelled against him by former Super Eagles winger and left back, Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi and Ismaila Taiye Taiwo.
The duo had accused the late gaffer of engaging in dirty dealings during his stints as the Coach of the team.
Interestingly, Shorounmu has lambasted Obasi over the bribery allegations, saying it was shameful for the former Schalke 04 Football Club of Germany to come out and make those claims when the accused is late.
Obasi claimed that he was asked to pay money to go to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Shorunmu who was an assistant to Keshi stated that Obasi lied and was dropped because he was injured.
Shorunmu has, however, challenged Obasi to come out with evidence to back his claims that he was asked to pay money to go to 2014 World Cup.
Nigerians have been wondering ever since how Obasi came up with the allegation with many, also, questioning him on how genuine his claim against late Keshi and his assistants are.
Late Stephen Keshi took the Super Eagles to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where Nigeria got to the second round before they were sent out.
Shorounmu has rubbished Obasi’s claim adding that the player should have talked when Keshi was alive rather than making unsubstantiated claims.
“A player was dropped for Obasi in the 2010 World Cup, he did not have any problem with that, now that he was dropped in 2014, he started talking.
“Some players only think for themselves and not for others. In 2014, Obasi was injured and was just coming back from the serious injury.
”If he has evidence that they demanded money from him, he should come forward and present it.
“But why didn’t he while Keshi was still alive, so they can face each other,” Shoronmu told Brila FM.
Former Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, had alsi cleared the waves when the allegations went viral, explaining how he offered late Keshi some cash willingly after signing an endorsement deal before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
But the 33-year-old former West Ham United Football Club of England claimed that Keshi rejected the money he willingly offered him after Nigeria defeated Ethiopia to qualify for the 2014 global tournament.
Emenike who was the highest goal scorer at the 2013 Africans Nations Cup added that he never paid any coach or coaches while playing for the national team.
However, the allegations came as a surprise for Emenike who claimed that some people even forced players on Stephen Keshi in the national team.
