They Stay In Their Room And Direct Affairs'


Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, dropped a bombshell yesterday with a revelation that unity in the national team was 'destroyed' during the captain eras of Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo.


"It was when 'Jay Jay' (Okocha) and Kanu became captain of the national team that things changed. That was when the whole Super Eagles was destroyed. There was not that union anymore. They stayed alone in their rooms. How can you bring players together if everyone is on his own?" Siasia told MTNFootball.com in 'The Garden of the Americas' Armenia, Colombia, venue of the on-going FIFA U-20 World Cup.


According to Siasia, the duo of Okocha and Kanu did not lead by good example in their eras as team captains because of their decision to direct affairs from their separate rooms whenever they were in camp preparing for national assignment.


He said: "While playing professional football in France and Belgium, we were paired two players to a room. These are some of things we have to do to build a solid Super Eagles. We have to work together. I'm the head coach and you are the captain of the team. If you want to be a leader, you don't just stay in your room all by yourself. A captain brings the young players to the same room advises them and encourage them. These young ones are the ones running for you the older players on the pitch."


He revealed that the present Super Eagles under the captain of Joseph Yobo was doing everything to change the situation saying: "I had to talk to him (Yobo). I told him he was one player they did not want me to invite when I took over the team. But I told him I invited him because I believe he still has a lot to give to this nation. He wants to be a leader so he has to accept this arrangement. It's not easy to do that because it calls for a lot of sacrifice. We are trying to build a united team on and off the pitch.


"He has been very understanding and working very, very hard. In the last couple of games he has played, he has been very, very outstanding. This was compared to what he used to play in the Eagles. I'm impressed with him. Yes, I had to tell him the truth, not pamper him. I told him he has not won anything since he has been playing for the Super Eagles about 10 years ago. Don't you think you need to win something before you retire? I asked him.


According to Siasia, the team's central defence is getting better now compared to when he took over. "It's just about understanding and communication and that's what Yobo is doing very well. Yobo played a wonderful game in Ethiopia, he played like a leader."


"We are rebuilding ahead 2014 World Cup and we can't rebuild with old players alone. We have a couple of the old players like Yobo, Osaze and Vincent Enyeama. But we will not be looking at too many old players. We are looking at players who could actually stay and grow with the team.


"A couple of the old ones will come for experience sake, that's why Ayila is there, Yobo too. Ayila is doing very well at his club, playing in the Champions League. The rest of the players are new, the likes of Emenike. We have not seen the best of him yet. I believe he will come and show Nigerians that he is a star in the making.


"A player like Fengor (Ogude) is also doing very well. He's a good addition to the team. He came in against Ethiopia and played as a holding midfielder, he did very well and I was very impressed with him. Hopefully, he will do even more.


"Also, Onyekachi Apam is a very good, smart sweeper, who cleans up the mess. The only time he did not play we lost to Argentina in the final of the 2005 U-20 World Cup. He has been out for most of a year, but we have talked. I pray he comes back very soon. He has done very well. He should recover in time and be back in the Eagles."


The coach, who witnessed the 2014 World Cup draw in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last week, described Nigeria's group as good. "It's a good draw compared to the one that pitched France and Spain. All the same, these countries are getting better every day. Ethiopia showed this when they surprised us in Addis Ababa.


"We have to prepare very well because there are no minnows anymore. If you tell me Malawi won't do well, that's a lie. We have to take every game very seriously. The most important thing is for us to qualify and when we get there, we will figure out what next. Nigerians want to win even when they do not prepare well. We have to prepare to win our games," he stated.

HE WAS SPOT ON,


Must especially under Kanu

big boiz madness started during when siasia's playing day for eagle,and the list of such players is endless.with due respect mr sia1 concentrate on the task ahead and try 2 instil discipline into your team.we love u and alway praying for your success.

but they are the best