WHY SIASIA DESERVES THE JOB
The last time I thoroughly checked, in view of the overall impact of
sports, particularly football otherwise known as soccer, on both individual and
national development, the leadership of any nation needed not to be reminded
that it’s meant to be treated as a priority in its scheme of work. But in
Nigeria, alongside other developing countries, it’s conspicuous that in the
recent times, rather than being celebrated or adored, the aforementioned game
coupled with many others has been relegated to the background as if that’s
where it belongs thereby constituting series of colossal societal pandemonium
among the teeming Nigerian citizens on a daily basis.
It’s so pathetic and humiliating to realize that a country that once
occupied the fifth position in the global football ranking as being compiled by
the world soccer governing body – FIFA, is currently headed toward the
hundredth position of the said ranking. It really sounds absurd thereby making
it very hard to believe by anyone who truly thinks good of this country. This
unequivocally implies that there’s something fishy and opaque taking place
somewhere, probably behind the scene, thus requires to be addressed by the apt
authority.
It’s no longer news that the country’s football national team reckoned
to be Super Eagles wouldn’t make it to Gabon come 2017 for the event that’s
expected to showcase the greatest Africa’s soccer tournament popularly
addressed as African Cup of Nations (AFCON) or ‘Nations Cup’. It’s pertinent
and perhaps extremely painful to note that this very unexpected knock-out
that’s only imaginable would mark the second consecutive time (back-to-back) the
acclaimed giant of Africa would be absent at the aforesaid championship. And if
adequate care is not taken, Nigeria is likely to be missing in the forthcoming 2018
FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Russia.
Few weeks ago, Samson Siasia the former Nigerian International striker
who’s presently a practising coach, was contracted to qualify the Super Eagles
for the next year’s Nations Cup following the abrupt resignation of the team’s
main Coach, Sunday Oliseh barely three weeks to the match against the Pharaohs
of Egypt; just like how he (Siasia) was tasked during the first time he was
employed to handle the team, precisely in November 2010. As luck wasn’t on his
side, unfortunately his 2011’s fate repeated itself in 2016.
It’s gratifying to acknowledge that Coach Siasia is currently the main
coach of the Nigeria’s U-23 team otherwise known as the Flying Eagles, and
within a short while the team in question had obviously toured places to the
glory of God. Now Nigeria can boast of a formidable, reliable and classy U-23
team. We need to urgently note that this very accomplishment wasn’t done
magically or through a magical means, rather it was recorded tactically.
Similarly, Siasia isn’t just a coach; he’s as well a manager. It takes
only a manager to form a team, whilst it takes a coach to build the team having
formed it. Forming a team simply means making each of its members possess only
one voice; making the members act or operate like a family. And, you would
wholeheartedly agree with me that formation of a football team remains the most
paramount step because that’s the rudiments towards building a team.
One of the basic qualities of a good manager is discipline. Believe me,
Siasia is a core disciplinarian. For example, he never jokes with time
management when it call for camping toward preparation of any match, be it
friendly or crucial. He knows how to show a player the way out if the player
violates the rule no matter whose ox is gored; in order words, he strictly
sticks to the rules. We are all not unaware of what transpired when the Super
Eagles were camping in Kaduna ahead of the AFCON qualifier match against Egypt;
some of the players couldn’t make it to the match owing to indiscipline. For
the umpteenth time, Siasia is highly disciplined and austere.
Furthermore, Siasia understands how to make amends. The moment he was
contracted as an interim coach for the Eagles, he went straight to the
immediate past goalie and former skipper of the team in the person of Vincent
Enyema with a view to reconciling him with the team, though his motive proved
abortive. It would be recalled that Enyema left the team as a result of the
misunderstanding that emanated between him and the erstwhile coach, Oliseh.
In the same vein, Siasia having understood that the Nigerian midfielder,
Mikel Obi was aggrieved, he thought it wise to transfer the post of the
Captaincy from Ahmed Musa to him (Mikel), which was a commendable step and a
well deserved recognition, in order to close the lingered ranks. He knew as a
good manager that, he wouldn’t boast of a reliable team if he failed to settle
such scores. And in a spirit of sportsmanship, Musa amicably relinquished the
post to Mikel due to the tactics utilized by Siasia.
For crying out very loud, why would Siasia be
blamed for not qualifying Eagles for the AFCON 2017? Even, to my utmost
surprise the team he tactically managed to build within a very short period
performed impressively. The only side that was porous in that team was the
defence, and suchlike loophole would have been corrected if enough time was
given to the coach prior to the matches between the Pharaohs of Egypt. Anyone
who keenly watched those matches must testify that the Eagles played
practically far better than the Pharaohs.
I’ve come to realize that, not
just the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) but Nigeria in general, is
accustomed to the Fire Brigade approach. This is why within a very short
period, the NFF engaged three different Nigerian coaches to man the Super
Eagles. Any slight mistake from a coach, he would be fired instantly as if mistakes
are crimes. But come to think of it, if really we’re to apportion blames, who
truly is to blame for all these crises that have been rocking not only the
country’s football but sports generally?
It’s of course no longer news that non-payment of coaches’ salaries and
allowances or payment in arrears has become peculiar to the ‘almighty’ NFF.
Even though that an element of politics is found in every facet of human
endeavour, we must note that institutional politics has no meeting point with
sports; both aren’t unlike two parallel lines. You can’t be treating your
employees like mere slaves and expect them to keep quiet or remain calm as if
they are imbeciles. Besides, if we couldn’t pay the local coaches, how do we
intend to pay the foreign coaches we’re clamouring for? It’s even laughable and preposterous to note that
such plan is occurring when Nigeria is concerned with how to promote her
locally made products or indigenous services. How do you reconcile this?
Another remarkable idiosyncrasy of Coach Siasia is humility. If you were
in his shoes, you wouldn’t accept the responsibility to coach the U-23 team
after being sacked as the Super Eagles’ coach. Everyone prays and makes frantic
effort to progress or climb to the top and not the other way round. Needless to
say that, Siasia possesses a commendable temperament and mentality. It takes
only maturity to act in such direction. In a nutshell, Siasia is good; he’s a
coach and a manager too.
It’s worrisome to note that we no longer exercise patience again because
the people in question are local or indigenous coaches. As if we have
forgotten; it would be recalled that it took the erstwhile Super Eagles’
foreign coach, Clemens Westerhof good five years or thereabouts to form as well
as build the dynamic and outstanding 1994 Super Eagles team that is still the
talk of the day across the globe. No doubt, Nigeria and Nigerians need to have
a rethink.
Without mincing words, the NFF led by Amaju Pinnick with the supervision
of the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung needs to go back to the drawing board if
it must succeed. Then, having returned from the drawing board, it would be left
with no other option than to give the job to Coach Siasia. Think about it!
Comr Fred Doc
Nwaozor
(TheMediaAmbassador)
-Researcher, Blogger,
Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-
Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador
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