We’ll Make Nigerians Smile- Siasia In the face of mixed reactions that trailed Coach Samson Siasia’s action to split the Dream team VI squad to prosecute the Super 6 competition and the friendly game against Tunisia, the coach is confident he would put smile back on the faces of Nigerians after the AFCON miss. In this interview the two-time former Flying Eagles and current under-23 teams’ gaffer outlined his plans for the All Africa Games and Rio 2016 Olympics… …………………… Can you let us into your program for the New Year given the enormous tasks before your team to qualify Nigeria for both the All Africa Games and the Olympic games? It is going to be the intense part of our exercise because we shall start with some physical sessions to knock the players into shape. Already they have been told to resume with their running boots because the first one or two weeks will be about running and endurance. Then after that, maybe we’ll play one or two friendly games against some local sides before we travel for our overseas tour. We really do not have too much time left, so we must get going so that we will be ready on time before our AAG qualifies. You also included four overseas based players in the 39 you invited for this phase. How certain are you of their availability? The players assured us they will be around but we cannot be too certain, and that’s why we have the number of home based players that we have. It will be good if they come, but I’m sure we have very capable players here at home so we just have to wait and see. But like I said earlier, we cannot depend too much on the overseas based players since the competition doesn’t fall under the FIFA free period, so we must work with what we have. If it is only the home based players that we have, then we shall work with them. It is not a problem and we don’t want to think about that. We will make do with what we have. You have split the team into two with 21 players to prosecute the double-header against Tunisia while 35 players will partake at the Super 6 competition, what is the rationale behind this decision? The fact is that we want to give chance to all the players to showcase themselves so that the issue of I was given a fair chance won’t arise. Whichever team you find yourself now is not the final list just keep doing your best at all times, the coaches are working as there will continue to be changes upon changes as time goes on. You called up Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi recently to the team, what do you make of him after seeing him play in camp? I think he is a great player who I believe has a good future in the game if he continues to develop well the way he is doing. Let’s just see how everything will go. How much of the Gabonese do you know now? I wouldn’t want to say that here but I can assure you that the NFF are doing their best to cover the situation and I’m sure we will be ready for them when the time comes. We just have to get ourselves prepared for the challenge and by the grace of God we will scale the hurdle. Most of the national teams have major engagements in 2015, but the focus is on you and your team since the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. Does this put you under extra pressure? There’s always pressure and we know that. But we are going to do our best to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians when the time comes. We are working very hard to raise a very good team and I hope we will make the country proud at the end of the day. Have you set any targets yet? The target will always change as the team progresses but for now, it is to qualify for the All Africa Games. We cannot think beyond that for now because that’s the biggest challenge we have at the moment. Maybe when we qualify, our targets will change. But for now, our target is to beat Gabon and get to the All Africa Games. The NFF are yet to make any concrete decision on the Super Eagles coaching job. As a former coach of the team, would you take it if it’s given to you? I have been given the U23 job and that is what I am focusing on right now, I’m not thinking of anything else. And it is not my job to determine who will handle the Super Eagles. I cannot be thinking about the Super Eagles while I have a job to do with the U23. Thanks for your time . Thanks.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 18:05:04 +0000
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