Páidi: comments on training were misinterpreted

PÁIDÍ Ó SÉ insisted yesterday that there is no problem in his relationship with Kerry team trainer John O’Keeffe.

The Kerry manager told RTÉ last night that he had spoken to O’Keeffe since the controversial Sunday newspaper interview and explained that his remarks were misinterpreted.

“What I said was totally misinterpreted. What I wanted to do, in conjunction with John, was to bring some innovative ideas into training this year. But I have spoken to Johnno and he will be organising training this coming Saturday.

“From the very beginning, when I got involved in training the Kerry team, the one person I wanted to get involved with me was John O’Keeffe. He is a man of high integrity and I have the greatest respect for Johnno.”

While Ó Sé and his team have been enjoying the sights of Cape Town, including a visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life, there have been calls for his head in the Kingdom.

However, Ó Sé reiterated yesterday he has no intention of stepping down with the only aim in his mind capturing Sam Maguire in September.

“I won’t resign. I have the full support of the Kerry supporters, the hard-core support. I regret very much if I offended some or all of the Kerry supporters. They have been very loyal to me, both as a player and a manager, over the past 30 years and if I offended them, I apologise.”

Since the controversy arose, comments have been made about the time and context of the interview. Ó Sé used the opportunity to clarify some of the misleading statements on that issue. “The interview took place at 2 o’clock in the afternoon in my house, irrespective of the other allegations held against me.”

Even though Kerry GAA chiefs disassociated themselves from the comments Ó Sé made about Kerry supporters, the manager believes he has the support of the people that matter the most. “I have the full support of the Kerry chairman and, most importantly to me, the Kerry players. They are the most important people and they are squarely behind me.”

Invoking Mandela and Mick O’Connell, Ó Sé hammered home his loyalty to Kerry football.

“I played my first game with Mick O’Connell above in Tuam Stadium in 1973, and I have been involved with Kerry every day since. Every morning I wake up, Kerry football is the first thing that comes into my head, and it’s there every minute of every day. I am going to lead Kerry into the 2003 championship and hopefully, we will win it.”