Give Siasia Another Chance

Since the Super Eagles, the senior national football team of Nigeria failed to qualify for  the 2012 Nations Cup, the call for change in the management of the team has divided Nigerians on no definable basis.

Indeed, the call for the sack of the Chief Coach, Sampson Siasia, an ex-International himself has elicited divergent views. Even the Nigeria Football Association recently came out from a meeting and failed to decide the fate of Siasia.

The anxieties of many Nigerians are understandable, especially the desire of qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup. The question is being asked and rightly too; if Siasia who could not take Nigeria to the African stage, can be trusted with the World Cup assignment.

The answer is almost obvious, but like every football-lover knows, one is not equal to one in football. Besides, Siasia had recorded quite some feat seven as a Coach for this country and can do it again. More so, to drop him now would not be in the interest of the country.

Of course, it would take time and all the politics to decide who to hire. It will require time for the fellow to settle down, click with the players and commence. At this time, the World Cup challenge would have come and gone. But if Siasia is allowed to correct himself, Nigeria stands to gain.

Although, the other big football names in Africa like Ghana, Cameroon and Egypt also failed to qualify, Nigeria cannot accept the situation because of what football does for the country. As sports- minded people, winning all the time cannot be the expectation, but losing at the time it mattered most is the issue.

Ordinarily, Sampson Siasia should resign honourably and allow a more prepared person to take over, but that would be unpatriotic on his part, knowing how it would affect the country at the moment. Siasia was paid well and given the free hand he needed to succeed.

His mandate was to qualify the country for the Nations Cup and the World Cup. Let us say, he still has the chance to redeem himself and nobody should give him the excuse that he could have done it if allowed to do so. Let Siasia redeem himself.

That is why we think Nigerians should give Siasia another chance and stop this undeclared debate of whether Coach Siasia should be sacked or not. This is a self-inflicted distraction that should be allowed to die with the anger of losing to Guinea. This will also allow Siasia to settle down to begin strategies that would take Nigeria to the World Cup.

Thankfully, Siasia had apologised to Nigerians and pledged to do better. Nigerians are forgiving people and the football administrators should in recognition of this fact, quickly announce the forgiveness of Siasia and charge him to work harder.

Indeed, this is time Nigerians should point out the area of weakness of the Siasia programme with a view to strengthening him for victory in the interest of the country. The country needs to do this in the interest of stability and sustained growth. We should be able to predict how things would go and not hang the nation’s soccer growth on the fortune of just one match.

Clearly, Siasia should be commended for trying to build discipline in the team, but he failed the flexibility test of great leaders. Yes, football demands discipline on and off  the pitch, especially regarding camp conduct, arrival for training among others, but when Nigerians begged for a particular player, the coach ought to re-consider.

Even so, when a very valuable player mis-behaves, he should be sanctioned, but not at a crucial game that could make or mar the chances of the team. These are some of the human relations problems that Siasia may need to work on. Indeed, he should not be seen to have personal conflicts with his players as was suggested.

There may be other areas that the football House may have privileged information on. Everyone that means well for football in Nigeria should speak up and sow into Siasia the x-factor needed to deal with whatever situation that would arise on our way to the World Cup.

We know that the failure to qualify for the Nations Cup was a serious blow. We know that the situation can be managed in ways that it does not become costlier. For us, we have forgiven Siasia and all the players who in one way or the other took Nigerians to this inglorious path.

Another area that many people have not considered also is the quality of challenge that the next Nations Cup would record in the absence of the major soccer nations, especially Nigeria. Indeed, Nigeria has also robbed Africa of that shine and attraction to the games.

Coach Siasia started well, what has happened is something, he too may need to explain so that the authorities would also give him the backing needed to avoid future mishaps. We wish Siasia luck in his future endeavours.