I Am Not A Use-And-Dump Player – Emenike Cries Out Over Keshi, NFF Neglect

Highest goal scorer at the just concluded AFCON in South Africa, Emmanuel Emenike has expressed disappointment in Coach Stephen Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation for abandoning him immediately after the nations cup.

The Super Eagles forward is unhappy that since he was side lined by a hamstring injury against Mali in the tournament last month, he has not received even a phone call from Keshi or any official from the Glass House.

“I must be honest with you, I have not been treated well by the coach and the NFF because they ignored me so soon, so fast,” he lamented. “Nobody from NFF and the coach have called to ask me about my injury. I am bitter about this. It is unfair and I can tell you that is why some players don’t come to give their best for the national team.

Continuing, he said, “When a player gets injured on national duty, I think the country’s football authority and coach ought to keep in touch to let him know he is loved and cared for. I am not a use-and-dump player. I will not act as one at all because my club career is very much important to me than anything.”

He added: “Look at a player like (Victor) Anichebe (Everton striker was injured while on national team duty last year), no one cared about him and you think he will come to national team to give his best. I am not worried about that but I just need to tell them it’s unfair. It is not everything that is money, but a call just to show you care could change someone’s problem at a particular time.

Emenike who plies his trade with Russian side Spartak Moscow, thanked the club for being there for him even though he cupped the injury away at national duty and expressed his intention to return to action because he has “missed the game much”.