Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins has revealed he is no longer getting called up for national team matches because the Chief Coach of the team hates him.
He said this on the sidelines of a charity Football match
“I don’t think [Keshi] likes me, that’s all. I don’t have any issues with him,” Martins told media when asked about his relationship with the coach who is yet to have his contract renewed.
“I respect him as a coach but I think Keshi doesn’t like me.”
Martins scored the lone goal in the Football for Hope charity match organized by the Lagos State government that left Governor Babatunde Fashola’s side on the losing end on Saturday at the Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos.
Other stars that played in Martins’ team were Asisat Oshoala, Lukman Haruna, Babatunde Michael, Razak Omotoyossi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Onome Ebi and John Dosu.
The BRF All Stars paraded former internationals Victor Agali, Jonathan Akpoborie, Gbenga Okunnowo, Godwin Okpara and Waheed Akanni.
Striker Obafemi Martins has said that his being frozen out of the national team was due to coach Stephen Keshi’s personal decisions. The Seattle Sounders forward just came off a season where he led his side to Major League Soccer play-offs as well as winning the Supporters’ Shield. Despite being in top form and scoring 17 goals in the just ended season where he earned nomination for the Most Valuable Player award, Martins was ignored for the Super Eagles’ 2014 Fifa World Cup campaign. Last month he called time on his international career after earning 39 caps and scoring 18 goals in the span of 10 years playing for the Eagles. Martins played two matches under Keshi’s watch in 2013 – a friendly against Venezuela in Miami and a World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar – without scoring, Goal reports. “I don’t think [Keshi] likes me, that’s all. I don’t have any issues with him,” Martins told media when asked about his relationship with the coach who is yet to have his contract renewed. “I respect him as a coach but I think Keshi doesn’t like me.” Martins scored the lone goal in the Football for Hope charity match organized by the Lagos State government that left Governor Babatunde Fashola’s side on the losing end on Saturday at the Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos. Other stars that played in Martins’ team were Asisat Oshoala, Lukman Haruna, Babatunde Michael, Razak Omotoyossi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Onome Ebi and John Dosu. The BRF All Stars paraded former internationals Victor Agali, Jonathan Akpoborie, Gbenga Okunnowo, Godwin Okpara and Waheed Akann
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