Sports
…Urge Understanding With Siasia
Football enthusiasts in the FCT want Nigerians to be patient with Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia, in his present task of rebuilding a formidable team.
Speaking on Super Eagles’ clash with the Leone Stars in a friendly encounter at Teslern Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Wednesday, some of the enthusiasts said that Siasia should not be judged by the outcome of the encounter.
The Super Eagles were earlier scheduled to take on the national team of Guatemala on January 9 in the United States before the latter were replaced by the Sierra Leonean national team.
While Mr. Akinwunmi Kole-Dawodu, a football enthusiast in FCT implored Nigerians to give the coach some time to build a formidable side, Mr. Iyene Ibanga, also a football enthusiast said that the match against the Leone Stars should be seen as a rebuilding process.
They both agreed that the Super Eagles team is passing through a phase that will take some time to achieve the desired result.
“I wouldn’t want us to judge Siasia with this first game. No, we shouldn’t do that, it will not be fair if you are doing that,” Kole-Dawodu said.
“So let’s see. Let’s give him some time, when we will be playing the qualifying matches for this 2012 Nations Cup, then we can start judging him from that, but now let’s see how it goes.
Ibanga on the other said: “I just want Nigerians to know that the match is not about winning. I think it’s all about discovering the strengths and weaknesses in the team so as to work on them.’’
Kole-Dawodu also said that Siasia was capable of turning the team around adding that the Sierra Leoneans were strong enough to give the team a good challenge.
Mr. Muhyideen Jimoh, also football lover in Abuja said that he expected a lot from the new Super Eagles under Siasia.
He added that though the Sierra Leoneans were capable of defeating the Super Eagles, he was confident that Nigerians would see a good team under Siasia.
Mr. Yahaya Isah, a football enthusiast, said he expected Nigeria to win the game.
He added that though the team lost in its last competitive match, the appointment of Siasia would have a positive effect on the team.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”
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