The high point of his illustrious football career was at the World Cup in U.S.A 1994, where he and the then debutant Super Eagles team mesmerized the football World with their scintillating skills;
sublime football artistry and entertaining brand of football. However, they were unlucky to have narrowly lost to the eventual tournament runners up Italy at the second round. Before then, he played for the flying Eagles and host of local and International club sides.Upon hanging his boot, he took up to coaching and instantly translated his playing success to coaching. His first coaching assignment was with the Flying Eagles to the World Youths Competition in Holland 2005. Despite shoddy preparation and other hick-ups synonymous with Nigerians foot ball administration; he reached the finals of the tournament. He again, worn silver at the Beijin Olympics 2008, a rare feet by any indigenous coach ever. Today, he is been touted as the best coach in Nigeria as he is on a mission to lead the nation to the World Youths Championship in Egypt in October. Yours reliable National Target Sports caught up with the one and only Samson Siasia (Sia One) in Abuja where he promised to win Gold in Egypt.
Q: What is the situation in camp like?
A: We are trying to put a lot of things together, there is a lot of progress thou. We have been engaged in a lot of warm – up matches, we had one with the home base Super Eagles; we won 2-1 a very impressive match. We have another one with Amac this evening, the essence of all these is to see how the boys understand each and play together. After this phase, we hope to embark on the last phase of our preparation, a camping in Spain. We hope to depart for Spain on the 20 or 22 of August.
Q: You once raised alarm over goal keeper problem, has it been resolved?
A: Our goal keeper Ajiboye as at then had a dip in form, but I am glad that he picked up, he did very well in Egypt, so we don’t have problem with goalkeeping now, more so there are some others doing well in camp. He is playing very well now, we want to stick with him and give him a lot of confidence.
Q: Do you have all expected players in camp at the moment?
A: No! We are expecting about 10 foreign based players to join us in Spain 3 of them from AC Milan; you know the Clubs will not allow them until 2 weeks to competition as stipulated by Fifa. But we are trying to work with their clubs to see if they can come a little earlier than that.
Q: Is Joel Obi of Inter Milan among the expected foreign based players?
A: Yes he is.
Q : We know of your enviable coaching record, what do Nigerians expect from you?
A: Well we are doing our best, we hope to win the competition, and we are working towards that. We hope that the boys will play well and utilize the chances that will come their way, because if you don’t score goals in football you lose.
Q: Talking about your players; we known of Kingsly Udo one of your reliable players and the problems he has in securing club, what is the situation like now.
A: Well, he went out to get a club, he was supposed to be with Atletico Madrid in Spain, but I don’t know what happened. But that is not a big deal, I have advised him to concentrate and after the competition he will get good club.
Q: One final one: What will Nigerians expect from you, are you coming home with the cup this time or silver?
A: No! We will break the jinx this time; Nigerians should expect gold from us this time around.
Q: How have been co-operation from NFA?
A: They have been wonderful, they have been very supportive, and I just finished having meeting with them.
National Target wishes you well.
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