10th November, 2010
After series of postponement, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF last week finally named ex-international, Samson Siasia as coach of the Super Eagles, coming to succeed coach Lars Lagerback.
Swede soccer tactician, Lagerback didn’t return to the country after leading the Eagles to South Africa 2010 World Cup, prompting the NFF to settle for the former Nantes F.C of France forward.
Other things being equal the former Flying Eagles coach would sign the dotted lines today but above that, he has a big task ahead if he must take the senior national team to their rightful position in international football.
The task may be insurmountable but with the full support of the Glass House, sound technical team, a conducive environment and the right approach he could achieve something substantial.
The Beijing 2008 silver winning coach would be an observer when the Eagles take on Iran in an international friendly match in Tehran next Wednesday. After the tie, Siasia is expected to work out the modalities to fortify the team ahead of subsequent matches.
With the Eagles’ second position behind Guinea on the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying table, Siasia is expected to turn the table against their opponents to ensure that Nigeria’s flag is hoisted at the competition.
For Nigeria to qualify for the Nations Cup, Siasia should take some risk, probably by doing away with some spent forces, who had hitherto dominated the team for too long.
The soccer loving Nigerians, who yearned for him to be named as coach of the team wants him to ring some changes in the team but they opined that, before he shows them the way-out he must provide replacements for them.
Among those, who reacted on the issue is Siasia’s teammate in the national team, Peter Rufai, popularly known as ‘Dodo Mayena.’ He said the Heartland F.C of Owerri soccer tactician should not see his appointment as a personal thing but a call to national service.
According to him; “this is a big challenge to all of us to rally round him and ensure he succeeds. Local coaches must prove that they have come of age. It is a collective thing and we must support him, Siasia should not see his appointment as his own making, he must reach-out to other indigenous coaches, ex-internationals and elders in the profession to advise him.â€
Victor Ikpeba, another of teammate of Siasia in the Eagles and a member of the Technical Committee, that screened Siasia and Stephen Keshi, wished the new coach well in his endeavors. But Ikpeba advocated for a vibrant Technical Department that can go out to scout for talented Nigerian footballers.
Ikpeba, nicknamed; ‘Prince Of Monaco’ during his active days is of the opinion that Siasia cannot be everywhere at the same time, hence the need for vibrant scouting team to discover good Nigerian players wherever they are.
“Siasia was named as coach of the Eagles because of his track records, but the job is not his alone. Everyone must work with him, the technical department must be up and doing because he can’t be able to spot good footballers alone, so we must work with him.â€
Meanwhile, Siasia’s long term friend and assistant, Simon Kalika says the crew have their eyes set on the semi-final at the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
In his words “Siasia has a great plan, in his mind, the Eagles must surpass what they have achieved so far.
“Nigeria must play in the final of the 2012 African Cup of Nations and must play in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, that’s the target that we are looking at.â€
—Adebobola Alawode
