SAMSON Siasia, who coached Nigeria’s men’s football team to a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, is quitting the game in his country because of what he describes as “a disrespectful system”.
Siasia, the most decorated African football coach at the Olympics having also won a silver medal in Beijing in 2008, claims to have gone unpaid for five months by his employers – the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He says he has quit football in Nigeria after “a turbulent and incredible campaign in Brazil.
“I have reached that point where I have to say I have had enough,” Siasia, whose contract expires at the end of the Olympics, told BBC Sport.
“I’ve gone several months without getting paid, years of being derided and disrespected by the sports authorities in Nigeria but I am done already.
“It’s sad that after all we went through to get to Brazil and end up winning a bronze medal, the players, coaching and backroom staff never received a ‘thank you’ in appreciation despite a turbulent time at the Olympics” Siasia added.
Before arriving in Rio, Nigeria’s ‘Dream Team VI’ were held up in Atlanta, USA, because of a problem with the payment for their flight, and they only landed in Brazil just hours before their opening 5-4 win over Japan.
Nigeria also had a troubled build-up to their quarter-final against Denmark after the players boycotted a training session in a dispute over pay.
Amid all the problems that blighted their campaign, the team showed courage under adversity to clinch the country’s only medal at the Rio games.
“First we had the minister deride us for camping in Atlanta and even denied our existence as a group before the flight problems,” recalled Siasia.
“Players had to embark on a strike to be heard, then the boys kept a good spirit to win an incredible medal, only to be publicly criticised for speaking to the Japanese surgeon who supported and rewarded the team for their brave spirit.
Tag: Siasia
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Siasia quits as U-23 coach, slams Dalung, NFF
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Olympics: Siasia makes five changes for Colombia clash
Dream Team VI Coach, Samson Siasia, has made five changes to his starting XI for Wednesday night’s final Group B clash with Colombia.
Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, Kingsley Madu and Umar Aminu have been listed in the starting XI by the coach, africanFootball.com reports.
The other fresh inclusions are Sadiq Popoola and Effiong Ndifreke.
Skipper Mikel Obi, Azubuike Okechukwu and the central defence pair of William Troost-Ekong and Sincere Seth will also feature in this encounter.
Nigeria has already qualified for the quarter final of this year Olympic Games soccer event after collecting six points from two previous matches.
The starting XI:
Daniel Akpeyi – Effiong Ndifreke, Kingsley Madu, Sincere Seth, William Troost-Ekong – Azubuike Okechukwu, Sodiq Popoola, Mikel Obi – Ogehenekaro Etebo, Umar Aminu.
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Siasia: My boys are miracle workers
Nigeria U-23 team’s Head Coach, Samson Siasia has described the performance of his players that saw them beating Japan 5-4 in their opening game of the football event of the Rio Olympics barely five hours after arriving Manaus as a miracle. Siasia said this during the post match press conference at the Amazonia Stadium, Manaus.
“I just can’t describe what happened today. My boys defied science to win this game; what gave us this game was the mental toughness of the boys. For a team not to train for two days and put up this type of performance is a miracle. You know that when players are tired they tend to lose focus. That is why we conceded four goals. For now, all I can say is I just want to go and savour this victory with my players.”
On his plan for the next game, Coach Siasia said: “We just won a game, we can’t and won’t allow this victory get into our heads. Our target here is to win the gold and this is just the first step of us achieving that aim. No two games are the same, for me this hurdle is over, when I wake up tomorrow I will then think of my next game.”
Describing the Japanese side as a good side, Siasia added: “The team we defeated is a good side; I respect them for pushing my boys to the limit.”
Coach Siasia refused to speak on the issues that caused him and the team to arrive Manaus hours before the game, saying the team has put that behind them and are grateful to Delta Airlines for coming to the rescue of the team when they did.
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Siasia confirms Mikel for Olympics
Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi will represent Nigeria at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after initial fears he will not be released by his club, Olympic Team coach, Samson Siasia has said.
Samson Siasia confirmed to africanFootball.com on Tuesday that the Super Eagles captain will be available for the Olympics starting on August 4.
“We have some other players who have promised to join us and they have shown commitment like Wilfred Ndidi, who has assured us that he will join us in America.
“Other players who will be available are goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi and Kenneth Omeruo. These are the players who are confirmed for now,” he told africanFootball.com.
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Siasia begs US Embassy to release 4 players’ visas
Dream Team VI handler, Samson Siasia has urged the American Embassy in Nigeria to conclude the good work they have done, with regards to the prompt release of US visas to members of his team who are yet to join his squad in the United States of America.
As of now 18 players and nine officials are already in the US while the Media Officer of the team, Timi Ebikagboro and four players namely: Julius Emiloju, Sani Modibo, Christian Madu and David Itoro are still waiting for the release of their US visas.
Siasia told NationSport yesterday that the others will join them in Atlanta, USA.
“I am using this medium to beg the officials of the American Embassy to continue the good work they have done so far by issuing the remaining visas to four of my players: Julius Emiloju, Sani Modibo, Christian Madu, David Itoro and our team’s Media Officer Timi Ebikagboro so that we can start our full preparations for the Rio Olympics. As soon as these people get their visas they will meet us in Atlanta”, Siasia told NationSport from the United States of America yesterday.
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Siasia: We made several mistakes
COACH Samson Siasia has blamed the Nigeria U-23 team’s embarrassing 6-2 defeat by Denmark at the Suwon Invitational Tournament on Saturday on several mistakes by his boys that were ruthlessly punished by the Danes.
Siasia said this much at the post match conference after the game played at the Goyang Sports Complex.
“We got it wrong from the blast of the referee’s whistle; we made so many mistakes; we didn’t play like we were meant to. The Danes did not play so well in their first game but they were tactically sound and we simply did not know how to defend against them.
“There were too many blunders on our side. We allowed them to control and pass the ball, and that’s how we got killed. It’s so embarrassing. I have never lost by six goals anywhere since I started my coaching career. All the same, that’s why we are here, to look at the guys that can play, and the ones that we can take to the Olympics. “It is very embarrassing, not because we lost, but the way we lost. Now, we have to snap out of it. We still have one more game to play, we will work hard to see that one turns out differently.” -
Korea tourney: Siasia blames fatigue for defeat
Olympic Team Coach, Samson Siasia, has blamed fatigue for his team 0-1 defeat to hosts South Korea in Thursday’s opening game of the Suwon Invitational Tournament.
The African champions conceded an 86th minute goal scored by South Korea’s Choi Kyubaek from a free kick which caught the Nigerian defence napping, africanFootball.com reports.
The team plays Denmark, 4-3 winners over Honduras, on Saturday.
Siasia said his players did not play their game as they were still suffering from jet lag occasioned by the long flight from Abuja.
“The flight didn’t help matters, but then that is not an excuse for us not getting at least a point from this game,” africanFootball.com quoted Siasia as saying at a post-match press conference.
“The goal scored by the Koreans was made possible because my players were adopting offside tactics. I don’t know where they got that idea from as we have never kept offside tactics in all our trainings and games.
“I am happy the NFF did everything to make us come for this competition. This is because it has exposed the boys to see things from a bigger perspective.”
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Olympics: I have not picked my overage players – Siasia
Olympic Team Coach, Samson Siasia, has dismissed claims that he has announced the three overage players that will play for his at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Reports had said John Obi Mikel, Odion Ighalo and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi had been confirmed for the Olympics soccer event.
But Siasia has now dismissed the news as false, insisting he will name them at the appropriate time.
“I have not named my overage players for the Olympics yet,” Siasia told Goal.
“I don’t know where those who quoted me got theirs from. I’m taking my time before naming them because the best legs deserve to be picked.”
The coach met with the duo of Mikel and Ighalo in London during a recent trip to United Kingdom.
Nigeria has been zoned in Group B with Sweden, Japan and Colombia and he is upbeat about his chances of making a meaningful impact in Brazil.
He also disclosed that his side will be gunning for glory when the Suwon international tournament begins in South Korea.
“My boys are very prepared and are eager to make the country proud,” he concluded.
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Siasia picks Saviour for Korea tourney
Nigeria Olympic team coach Samson Siasia has included KV Oostende forward Godwin Saviour to the squad for an invitational tournament in Korea preparatory to the Rio Olympics.
“Saviour will feature at the invitational tournament in Korea,” disclosed one of his representatives.
Saviour, who was a late substitute for his club in a Belgian championship playoff on Thursday, has not featured for Dream Team VI since the qualifiers for the U-23 AFCON.
Club engagements stopped him from both the All Africa Games as well as U-23 AFCON in Senegal.
Several other overseas-based professionals including skipper Azubuike Okechukwu have already confirmed their availability for the tournament.
Hosts Korea, Denmark and Honduras are the other teams billed for the invitational tourney.
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We were poor against Flying Eagles, admits Siasia
Nigeria Olympic team coach Samson Siasia has admitted his team were “poor” against the Flying Eagles in a test game in Abuja on Thursday.
The Olympic team, who paraded the likes of goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Daniel Etor and Stanley Dimgba, lost 2-1 to the U-20s.
“This is what I have been saying – that I don’t have a team because most of the players are being held back by their league clubs,” said Siasia.
“I had only about three regular players in this game and overall we were poor.
“We need to do more before our trip to Korea for the invitational tournament.
The U-23 African champions are preparing for the Rio Olympics in August.
They are drawn with Japan, Sweden and Colombia.