Siasia, the untouchable?
After the much anticipated departure of Swedish coach Lagerback in 2010 after the FIFA World Cup debacle, the former international emerged as the most favoured candidate for the plum job as Nigerian football fans overwhelmingly supported him. Consequently, after scrutinizing the credentials of some top coaches like Bryan Robson, former England Manager Sven Goran Larsson, […]
After the much anticipated departure of Swedish coach Lagerback in 2010 after the FIFA World Cup debacle, the former international emerged as the most favoured candidate for the plum job as Nigerian football fans overwhelmingly supported him.
Consequently, after scrutinizing the credentials of some top coaches like Bryan Robson, former England Manager Sven Goran Larsson, and another Nigerian ex-international Stephen Keshi, the Alhaji Aminu Maigari led Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation then settled for Siasia as Eagles coach.
At his unveiling in Abuja late last year, Maigari made it abundantly clear that Siasia was the choice of Nigerian football fans that had not hidden their love and support for him.
There was no basis to contest the position of football fans whose overwhelming support for the coach was borne out of what he had achieved as coach of the youth national teams. It is on record that in 2005, Siasia coached the under 20 team (Flying Eagles), taking them to the finals of both the 2005 Under-20 World Cup and the U-20 African Youth Championship.
He won the African Youth Championship and advanced all the way to the world final – before losing to Argentina 2-1. He also assisted Augustine Eguavoen in coaching the national team.
Samson Siasia was appointed national U-23 coach on January 2007. In 2008, he coached the Nigerian Under-23 Olympic squad to the final against Argentina. In a superbly played series of matches, Nigeria’s team earned the Olympic Silver Medals. Earlier in 2008, the U-23 team won the inaugural Intercontinental Cup in Malaysia.
This fine team was composed entirely of domestic Nigerian players and won the Cup against many teams headed for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. In March 2009, he was reappointed coach of the National U-20 side but the team ended a disappointing 3rd in the 2009 Africa Youth Championship.
Based on his successes within such a short period, Siasia won the hearts of millions of football crazy Nigerians who nick-named him “World Cup Coach-WCC”. His appointment was therefore widely celebrated as many believed his reign would positively transform the fortunes of the team.
His mandate was clearly spelt out by the NFF. He was given a four year mouth watering contract to rebuild the national team and ensure qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
To ensure he succeeds, NFF splashed N5m monthly salary on him and in addition handed to him an exotic N6m official car. Presently, Siasia is the highest paid public official as even the President’s salary is far less than what the coach earns per month.
Siasia’s first match in charge of the Super Eagles was the friendly against Sierra Leone on February 9 in Lagos. Eagles won the match 2-1 but the performance of the team was not convincing. But nobody accused the coach of any wrong doing because it was his very first match in charge of the team.
He went on to record more victories as he attempted to rebuild the team including the 4-1 thrashing of Argentina in an international friendly on June 1 in Abuja. The Argentines have since taken back their pound of flesh with a 3-1 defeat of Eagles on September 6 in Bangladesh.
Before the crash in Abuja which is threatening to consume Siasia, he had clashed with some of his key players. He needed their cooperation to qualify the country for the Nations Cup but what came out was a frosty relationship. He moved from one battle to another. First it was Osaze Odemwingie, then Dickson Etuhu even though the Fulham man has not played for him, and finally Vincent Enyeama. Mikel Obi and Victor Anichebe escaped his wrath because they were fast to recoil into their shells.
Siasia attempted to enforce discipline in the team but many said his approach was defective and so he ended up losing the goodwill and cooperation of his players. Following the outcome of the match against Guinea, those who are sympathetic to his cause have since alleged sabotage on the part of some of the players.
As earlier mentioned, Siasia is no longer popular among Nigerian football fans. Even those who campaigned for him to be appointed were the first to call for his sack. Some of them even went on rampage as they tried to press home their demand.
Some prominent Nigerian football administrators have queued behind Nigerians who want Siasia out. Former NFA Scribe, Sani Ahmed Toro was the first to say Siasia should be kicked out.
He said: “Before Siasia was appointed he was given a target he should meet and if he has failed to deliver, he has to be sacked. This is the practice everywhere in the world”.
Ex-international, Tijani Babangida also called on the coach to toe the path of honour by resigning. “Siasia is my very good friend but I want to advise him to toe the path of honour. He is the coach and must take full responsibility for what happened.
However, Sports Minister Yusuf Suleiman believes Siasia is not the sole cause of Super Eagles failure and should not be rushed out of the team. According to him, the coach may be part of the problem but should not be used as a sacrificial lamb.
The minister’s position on Siasia has since attracted condemnation from Nigerians who feel he is shielding the coach away from the appropriate action simply because he wants to protect his job as minister.
His critics are of the opinion that he does not want to incur the President’s wrath by allowing his kinsman to be sacked. But the minister is adamant that Siasia must be given fair hearing.
At the moment, the Executive Committee of the NFF itself is sharply divided between anti- and pro Siasia. But this is not the same with its technical committee which is said to unanimous in its decision to sack Siasia.
Against this background, there is intensive lobbying in high quarters to save Siasia from the sack which Nigerians are clamouring for.
SHOT! authoritatively gathered that some friends and supporters of Siasia have been mounting pressure on the Glass House leadership on not to sack the embattled coach. This explains why the much publicized Thursday verdict on Siasia did not see the light of the day. After a brief meeting, the technical committee said it had forwarded its recommendations to the Executive Committee of the NFF which is scheduled to hold its meeting early next week.
At the time of going to press Thursday night, there are strong indications that the NFF technical committee had recommended Siasia’s sacking and suggested former Mali and Togo coach Stephen Keshi be appointed as caretaker coach. But it remain to be seen if that recommendation will be adopted by the NFF leadership.
However, as the battles to save his job continue, Siasia is asking for more time for him to atone for his mistakes. He is quoted as saying he wants to continue but would not hesitate to leave, if the NFF decides to part ways with him.
But informed sources have it that Siasia may survive the impending hammer as he is said to be enjoying enormous support from his kinsmen who believe his sack would be an affront on President Goodluck Jonathan, who is a fellow Bayelsan. If such feelers are anything to go by, Siasia would in the end be the untouchable one.