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Dutch coach, Simon Kalika, has backed Samson Siasia for the Nigeria U-23 Eagles Head Coach position, citing his impressive achievements in the role, Completesports.com reports exclusively.
Kalika, who assisted Siasia during the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in the Netherlands and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, told Completesports.com from his native Netherlands on Friday night that his support for Siasia was strictly based on the former Super Eagles striker’s track record in football, as well as his ability to identify and develop talents into Super Eagles stars.
Siasia’s Coaching Pedigree Stands Out
He spoke against the backdrop of the Nigeria Football Federation’s plan to appoint a substantive coach for the U-23 men’s national team, with Daniel Amokachi and Samson Siasia emerging as the two leading candidates.
“I think if you have a piece of paper and pen in your hand and begin to list the achievements of the two coaches — Amokachi and Siasia — you would know who among the two has far better achievements,” Kalika began.
“It’s not about who my preferred choice among the two coaches is. Instead, it’s about who has a better record and who has achieved more in previous jobs.
“I’m not saying this because I worked with Siasia in the past. I’m saying that if the appointment is based on merit, experience and performance, then I believe Siasia is the right man for the job.”
Siasia’s Olympic And FIFA U-20 Successes
Kalika went on to reel out what he believes are Siasia’s standout achievements, which place him ahead of Daniel ‘Da Bull’ Amokachi for the coveted U-23 Eagles job.
“Winning silver medals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005 and the men’s football event of the 2008 Olympic Games is by no means a child’s play.
Also Read: Go Get Samson Siasia, Foreign Coach Or Not! –Odegbami
“Moreover, he has eyes for scouting talents and developing them into Super Eagles and global football stars. Look at Obinna Nsofor, John Obi Mikel, Felix Onyedika Ogbuke and others.
Amokachi Backed For Super Eagles Assistant Role
“I’m not saying that Amokachi isn’t good. He was a great player during his playing days in Europe and for the Super Eagles, which he captained at some point.
“He was fantastic for the Super Eagles at the World Cup and AFCON. But I think it would be better if he is appointed as Super Eagles assistant coach for now.”
Samson Siasia, 58, and Daniel Amokachi, 53, remain the two leading contenders as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prepares to appoint a substantive coach for the U-23 Men’s National Team.
By Sab Osuji
2 Comments
If NFF want to safe Nigeria u23 football. Siasia is the best to rescue the team and restore the lost glory.
He has the experience.
As Samson Siasia has applied for U-23 Team coach, what NFF are still waiting for. NFF should remember that the FORMAT used to qualify for Olympic has changed compare to Old format.
Since the introduction of NEW FORMAT, the coach like Equavoen, Imama-Amapakabo, Salisu-Yusuf failed woefully to qualify for U-23 Olympic game in 2012, 2020, 2024 as a result of over reliance of foreign base players to prosecute qualifications.
Most of our players in Europe were not released by their respective club sides, which their clubs claimed that the U-23 AFCON competition (new format) was not in FIFA CALENDAR.
It is ONLY COACH SIASIA that was able to qualify U-23 Team for Olympic game in 2016 with the new format. And this is due to the fact that Coach SIASIA is a coach that knows how to build & groom players from the scratch and not over reliance of super stars (ready-made) foreign base players to prosecute a match.
NFF HAS TO BE SERIOUS WITH U-23 TEAM because is an avenue to access and produce good players next to Super eagle team. From this U-23 Team, many players will able to be ACCESSED, TESTED & TRUSTED before promoted to MAIN Super eagle team.
No players will be jumping directly to Super eagle team EXCEPT he was an EXTRAORDINARY plyer.
In the past U-23 OLYMPIC TEAM, when the like of KANU, BABAYARO, TARIBO, BABANGIDA, AIYEGBENI, AGHAHOWA, ISAAC-OKOROKWO, NSOFOR, EFE, OBASI, ANICHEBE, SHE HU-ABUBAKAR, ETEBO, EKONG promoted to Super eagle team, none of them disappointed, because we have already knew their QUALITIES AND POTENTIALS