The Task Before Siasia (Sorry, Keshi)

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Posted: Nov 10, 2011

IN NOVEMBER 2010. Samson Siasia was appointed head coach of the Super Eagles after “beating” his erstwhile national team skipper Stephen Keshi in an interview process conducted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). One year later, November 2011, Siasia has been sacked and now replaced by Keshi.

Following Siasia’s appointment, I wrote him a letter in this column on the task ahead of him. Even as Keshi takes over, the letter is still fresh and relevant and I have decided to re-run it for Keshi’s benefit.

Hi, Big Boss, I know you will read this letter. As you read along, just replace Samson with Stephen and also substitute other names and issues that are not applicable to you. The rest of the letter is as relevant as ever and I hope you will find it useful.

Remember our last encounter at that magnificient hotel in Accra? Well, now you have the job that you’ve always craved for. Don’t mess it up. Now, read on...

Hi, Samson,

How you dey? Congratulations on your appointment as head coach of the Super Eagles.

Ol’ boy, na wah for you o! Wetin you give Nigerians chop sef? Honestly, I do not know of anyone in recent Nigerian football history whose appointment into any position has been as popular as yours.

When I wrote in my column last week that I couldn’t choose between you and Stephen Keshi who should be appointed because both of you were very close to me, I was hit by a tidal wave of sms text messages from readers demanding your appointment and threatening to boycott the Eagles if you weren’t given the job.

A yoruba proverb says “He who is loved by the people is faultless.” Right now, you are faultless in the eyes of Nigerians because they simply love you to bits. But you would be making a big mistake if you thought for just one second that this honeymoon will last forever. The purpose of my letter is to draw your attention to some of the areas you will need to focus on as you take on the biggest assignment in your budding coaching career.

1. Discipline:

You are not my first choice for the Super Eagles job. Not you, not any other Nigerian coach. And that is because indigenous coaches historically have a problem enforcing discipline in the senior national team.

You played for the national team under local and foreign coaches, so you can’t pretend not to know what I’m talking about. During your time, Stephen Keshi the “Big Boss” was seen as the head of the “Eagles Mafia,” but I know that you were not far behind in the mafia hierachy. You were a tough nut and it took a stubborn Clemens Westerhof to crack you guys and put you in your place until you finally rebelled against him at the World Cup finals in USA. You know the story of what happened in Boston, Samson, so I will leave out the details.

Now that you are in charge, how are you going to knock potential “rebels” in line? How are you going to ensure that your word is law in the Super Eagles? Make no mistake: this is not the Under-20 or the Under- 23. This is the Super Eagles.

How would you handle lateness to camp? How would you deal with lateness to bed? Can you ban your players from using mobile phones or i-pods when they should be resting and make it stick? How would you deal with players skipping national assignment due to “injury”, only to become suddenly “fit” to play for their European clubs the next day?

It is the mishandling of disciplinary issues such as the ones illustrated above that have eroded the effectiveness of indigenous coaches in the Super Eagles. That is why people like me prefer the foreign coaches that command respect. But if you can overcome this problem, you can be as good as any foreigner.

Your level of success in the Eagles will be determined largely by how well you are able to enforce discipline amongst the players.

2. Fitness:

Your former coach, Clemens Westerhof was very successful because he had his Dutch compatriot Jo Bonfrere as his physical trainer and you know that. Bonfrere was a thorough trainer. He knew how to knock holidaying players into shape within one week and he did not condone excuses or laziness.

Whatever formation or tactics Westerhof came up with, you guys were very fit to execute them. We saw your fitness levels at Senegal ‘92, at Tunisia ‘94 and at USA ‘94. You guys were super fit and you scared your opponents. How are you going to restore that in the Super Eagles.

We are told that you have picked your own Dutch friend, Simon Kalika, as one of yor assistants. Is Kalika a tactician or a fitness coach? You will need a fitness coach that knows his onions to command the respect of your Europe-based players, otherwise they will dodge his work-outs and laugh behind his back. You know what I’m talking about, so don’t make the mistake of accepting just anyone as your fitness trainer.

Before Bonfrere, there was Peter Edema, the soldier, remember? He was very good and very strict with his work-out regimen. Those are the kind of fitness trainers that you need. Don’t compromise.

3. Pace:

Now, this is the major change Nigerians expect to see in your Super Eagles compared with how the team played under Shaibu Amodu. We expect to see the Eagles playing a high-tempo style that is now the norm in world football. We expect to see a quick transition of the ball from defence to midfield and from midfield to attack. We also want to see fast breaks on the counter when the opportunities arise.

In my reckoning, the biggest problem with Amodu’s Eagles was it’s laborious and slow pace build-up which always gave his opponents time and space to regroup and reorganise at the back. And that was partly because his team always lacked the fitness required for fast-paced football.

Remember that during your playing time, Westerhof often benched Austin Okocha because he thought Jay-Jay was too slow with the ball. Westerhof once told me: “I have fast attackers, I have fast attackers.
I want them to get the ball very fast, very fast.” That was how you supplanted Okocha in midfield and you were first choice with Sunday Oliseh and Mutiu Adepoju.

Samson, you must return the Eagles to play the Westerhof way, the speedy way, the pacy way with Finidi George on the right; Emmanuel Amuneke on the left; Rashidi Yekini and Daniel Amokachi in the middle. There was pace everywhere. Don’t pick players that will slow down your game unneccessarily.
Okocha and later Nwankwo Kanu imposed their slow styles on the Eagles midfield after Westerhof left. Both of them became captain and they entertained us with their exceptional talent and skills. But they never won anything for the Super Eagles.

My advice to you is to give premium to pacy and effective players rather than merely skilful players in the new Super Eagles. Modern football is now dominated by pacy teams at club and international levels.

4. Power:

I was the first to call the Super Eagles “Boys Scouts” at Egypt 2006 Nations Cup before everybody started calling them “Super Chickens” at Ghana 2008 Nations Cup. You know, Samson, that probably the most critical element of a black African player that endears him to the Europeans is his strength and athleticism. When you remove that power element from an African team, you have removed the heart of the team.

During Westerhof’s time, and you know this, he went out of his way to look for big, strong players. He once told me: “ I like the Ibos in my defence because they are big and strong. Big players like Uche Okechukwu strike fear into their opponents.”

There was power everywhere in Westerhof’s team. Okechukwu, Stephen Keshi, Austin Eguavoen, Emeka Ezeugo, Chidi Nwanu, Yekini , Amokachi and Thompson Oliha were all big boys. Even you, Ben Iroha, Amuneke and Okocha that were on the shorter side were quite muscular and strong.

Samson, you will have to look for truly big boys to rebuild a Super Eagles that will be able to contest for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012. I am not suggesting that we should adopt a physical approach like Cameroun, but you certainly need to have the physical strength for a contact game such as football.
We are tired of Boy Scouts and Chickens posing as Super Eagles. When the chips are down, they chicken out!

5. Organization/Tactics:

With discipline, fitness, pace and power in place, the next ingredient you need to give Nigeria a winning Super Eagles is organization and tactics. Here, my suggestion is that you must change the orientation of the team from defensive-mode to attacking-mode.

Amodu was an overtly defensive-minded coach. That is why the Eagles didn’t concede too many goals under his charge, even though they didn’t score too many, either. Amodu won most of his games via narrow margins, but as we saw eventually, it wasn’t good enough to keep him on the job because the team simply wasn’t playing attractive football.

Attractive football is attacking football and that is what we want to see the new Super Eagles play. The challenge for you is to strike a fine balance between the attack and the defence so that you don’t concede too many goals and many defeats.

6. The Players:

You will notice that I have not mentioned any current Super Eagles player by name in this letter. That is because I think they should be the last in your consideration of how the team should evolve. Please don’t misunderstand me.

Of course, the players are very important. In fact, they are the single most important tools for any coach. But rather than pick players and fashion the team around them, I think we now need to determine first the type of team we desire, then look for the players that fit.

During Westerhof’s tenure, he already decided the type of centre-backs he wanted – “big and strong” – before he selected them. If you were not “big and strong,” Westerhof would not even invite you, no matter the other qualities that you may possess.

Samson, I think you should also determine first the type of team you want and how you want the team to play before selecting the players that would fit your system. That is the only way to truly rebuild the Super Eagles. Anything short of that is going the same old way of calling up players based only on reputation, popularity or the clubs they play for. And that approach has won us nothing for 16 years.

7. Scouting:

The implication of item 6, (above) is that you will have to scout for new players at home and abroad, Samson. In recent years, too many players unworthy of the Super Eagles have been called up simply because they found their way to one European club facilitated by one player agent. If you scout your own players, you may then advice the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the player’s club to initiate his movement abroad for adequate training and exposure. That was what Westerhof did for Finidi, Amokachi, Alloy Agu and a host of others. He discovered them as raw talents, used his contacts to arrange European clubs to brush them up, then used the refined articles to win laurels for Nigeria.

In your own case, Samson, please don’t get directly involved in the transfer of players from local to foreign clubs. If you spot a home-based player and you want him exposed to gain experience, just inform the technical department of the NFF and let them deal with it with the player’s clubside.

That leads me to some of the personal conducts you will have to observe as coach of the Super Eagles...
A. Sincerity/Integrity:

This is a very sensitive subject but you can trust me not to gloss over it because I have a duty to tell you the truth, Samson. The major reason most critics do not want local coaches in charge of the national teams is because of allegations bothering on corruption. We hear and see how local coaches are easily compromised by players with cheap gifts such as wrist watches and gsm phones. We hear and see how local coaches collect bribes and gratification from players’ agents in order to include such players in the national teams.

Last year, rumours were rife about how you, Samson, allegedly compromised yourself at the FIFA under-20 World Cup finals in Egypt. I’m sure you must also have heard the allegations that you collected money to favour some players managed by a certain Nigerian football agent who is based in Spain.

Nobody proved anything against you, so we will have to regard that episode as mere rumours. But as you take charge of the Super Eagles now, I will advice you strongly to henceforth distance yourself from actions that may bring your integrity into question.

Nigerian soccer fans have demonstrated so much love and support for you. They also have very high expectation of you. It will be a betrayal of tragic proportions if you decided to take advantage of your esteemed position for personal, pecuniary gains at the expense of the national team and the joy of the people.

You must be sincere with Nigerians, Samson. You must work with integrity. You must not cut corners by going into unholy alliances. You must not collect gratification directly or indirectly before selecting players for the national team. You must not use the Super Eagles to promote your private interests. You must not betray the trust of your fans.

B. Wisdom:

You must be wise in your relationship with your employers, the NFF. Don’t think because you have the public behind you, you can push your employers around. If you make that mistake, you will be frustrated, you will fail and you will be fired.

You have had a few showdowns with the NFF in the past. Now is the time for you to cool down, and deal with them with a lot of wisdom.

No matter what people might say about this NFF, the fact is that they have given you probably the best deal ever got by an indigeneous coach. You must reciprocate their gesture. There are bound to be some misunderstandings. The media will push you to talk, but you can’t afford to wash every dirty linen in public. Be matured. Be cultured. Be wise. Above all, be strategic.

C. Hard Work:

Finally, work hard, Samson. Work really hard.

The Super Eagles job is a full time job. Even when the team is on break, the coach must be working, thinking, planning, studying and also monitoring his players. Throw yourself fully into this assignment, Samson. You are lucky to have grabbed a position which you know very well that all other Nigrian coaches are dying for; which many of your colleagues and contemporaries are praying for. Don’t mess around with this great opportunity. Work hard, pray hard and victory shall be yours.

I’m your friend, MUMINI ALAO

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Comments

Moshud

Nov 10, 2011

Hi Mr Alao, I remember reading this letter to the new coach Siasia almost a year ago and i thought the advise was very solid. However, i expressed my concerns about Siasia ability to manage the behind the scene factors many Nigerian fans don't see or care to bother about. Also, I was concerned about the incompetence of the administrators and lack of support. As faith has it all came to pass - Siasia failed and is sacked. Siasia didn't fail because he wasn't good but because there was no real football development structure in place - this is not the national coach responsibility - and little personal support for him to succeed. I am afraid Keshi faith would not fair any different. It might take may be longer because NFF won't want to sack another coach so soon but for sure Keshi would fail too. And this would not be because Keshi isn't a good coach/manager but because in the modern world a national football team needs more than a good coach but a whole structure behind him which is just pure and simple absent. The 'chief justice' said it and he is not the first. You have said it many times to deaf ears of the administrators. So those who have followed my comments on this blogs shouldn't be surprise if my blame is always laid at the foot of the administrator - NFF. I just wish the fans who hold so much power unknowingly realize that the problem is NFF and neither the players nor the coach. Once this fact is understood then the NFF would sit up and perform their job properly. There is enough suggestions to get on with but NFF would always take the ease option sack the coach and start again and the nation is decived and claim is restored. It is high time Nigerian football FANS turn on the NFF for the national team misfortunes. I await that day - it is a long coming but it will come one day. However, i wish Stephen Keshi all the best in an impossible job.
Dickson

Nov 10, 2011

He that have ears let him hear what prophet of Nija football (MUMINI ALAO) have said. NFA or NFF have not been there best even befor the time of westerhof, but he westerhof understood the game at that time and used the late v p contact to keep his job. Now Keshi you have work with the press which siasia did't do at the last game and let your players play for you, if u make them your friends and you be there father, with hard work and God in our side victory is sure. I wish you the best
Birikiti Oluba

Nov 10, 2011

Mr Mumini Alao is a gift to Nigerian football, through and through! His articles and letters are always spot on. Coaches/administrators ignore them at their own peril!
I, also, remember reading this letter to Siasia and the the feedback from the public the week after. I remember Siasia replied with a text message saying he'd talk with you later. Did he eventually speak with you?

Anyway, that is history now. The main issue is for S. Keshi to read and learn. He is very lucky to have the benefit to watch how Siasia flunked the test of handling the Eagles and to avoid pit falls his predecessor fell into.

Personally, I'm not comfortable with the way Keshi's team have played over the years. From our U-20 team in 2001 to Togo National team and finally Mali. His teams have not been short of talent but the overall output have been disappointing! Many folks say he qualified Togo (not a mean feat at all, I admit) and that is evidence he's good. Well, what I have to say to that is the fact that qualifiers in Africa don't always throw up the best teams! Call it an African thing or something but I have noticed that the top seeds don't always start well and away grounds (especially in smaller nations) are not always conducive for our big name teams with foreign based "super" stars.
I have always believed that a tournament shows the true worth of any coach and not the qualifiers! If we look at the two AFCON tournaments Keshi attended with Togo and Mali, then my concerns will be all the more apparent. Even though he had good players in all departments of the Malian team in 2010 (same can't really be said for Togo in 2006), the overall play and results were not satisfactory at all! His teams conceded goals at will and there wasn't any discernible pattern of play most times.

With the foregoing, I'm concerned that the little gains (in terms of goals ratio & overall play) the Super Eagles have had under Siasia will be eroded in no time.
HOWEVER, I'm an optimistic fan of the Eagles and I support fully anyone saddled with the task of overseeing the re-birth of a soaring Super Eagles team as highlighted by Mumini Alao in the article above. I only hope Keshi has learnt from all his escapades in previous appointments. I hope he sincerely has his tactics/team organization ideas perfected and he has learnt how to read games and make highly intelligent substitutions. We are tired of having our team play the same formation throughout 90mins even when it's obvious the opponents have read our game. We are tired of coaches who seem to have run out of ideas in a game, tired of our coaches being out-foxed & "out-thought" by opposing coaches. So I hope Keshi has his acts perfected through & through!
Lastly, you will do well to heed the advise of appointing a physical trainer asap. This, to me, was Siasia's undoing. Imagine your players turning out a lethargic performance in the most important game to you. A good, no nonsense trainer should mitigate this problem.

I support and pray for you big Boss Keshi, may all your plans work perfectly and may the good Lord bless the works of your hands and crown your efforts with victory & success. I look forward to you lifting AFCON 2013 and make a great impact in Brazil 2014.

All the best Big Boss!
Olusoji

Nov 10, 2011

Sometime, I think that Alao is just the 3eye that any National team coach need to success in Nigeria. He's precision are accurate and timely. I believe for any coach who want to success. Should follow the BRT bus of Mr. Alao for a successful destination and and timely.

More grease to your elbow Mr. Alao. I LOVE YOU.
Olusoji

Nov 10, 2011

Sometime, I think that Alao is just the 3eye that any National team coach need to success in Nigeria. He's precision are accurate and timely. I believe for any coach who want to success. Should follow the BRT bus of Mr. Alao for a successful destination and and timely.

More grease to your elbow Mr. Alao. I LOVE YOU.
Jorge

Nov 10, 2011

As with so many of your fans i praise your sound comments on football matters in Nigeria. However it is difficult to understand why Siasia who you referred to as your friend in this letter failed to heed your advice. Even the one you volunteered to him on the eve of the Guinea match. You stand out as a patriotic sports journalist and i respect your unbiased views. Like you rightly pointed out Keshi must adopt this same letter and apply the messgae in his present assignment. By and large the success of any team though is easily measured by the number of victories recorded, but beyond that is the ability of the team to bring smiles on the faces her fans even in the face of defeats which could be attributed to mother luck.
Westerhof did not win all his matches, but he had a team that was capable of managing defeats and still retain the love and loyalty of football lovers in Nigeria. Did you notice that even Fabio Capello and English FA with all the perfections attributed to her has not won any trophy since assuming the post? Yet neither the English national team nor Cappello now the FA is facing any threat of sack.
Langbodo

Nov 11, 2011

You might be so good in writing a lengthy 'academic' analysis but sometimes you didn't dig deep enough when it matters most. You've created a standard for yourself to the level of everybody believing your match analysis/expectation on how to qualify or win matches without any query. I am sorry to say that you and your boys at complete sports confused the Eagles out of the Afcon. qualification during the last Eagles/Guinean match at Abuja by saying that we need to win by 2 clear goals to qualify. In all your analysis and Interview preceding that fateful match you did not mention it once that we can qualify at 2-1. It was this 3rd goal the boys and the coach were looking for when disaster struck. You owe us an apology for this confusion, this will make you to be a gentleman that we always think you are.
Bamky

Nov 11, 2011

Alhaji Alao, I Agree with Langbodo, you misled us, is Sa,son has not taken to your advise trying to get 3-1 instead of defending his2-1lead he would not have withdrawn Joel Obi,and we would have qualify.so please we are waiting for your apology for over analyzing .your advice to Siasia/Keshi is right.Keshi also have this Togolese former player he depends on for tactical advise, likevSaisia use the Belgian .We may qualify for Afcon 2013 but Keshi does not have it there to get us the Cup.please let's start sending and his crew on refresher course and attachments now,Hope at 62years he can still learn,Oh sorry 52years..I love Mumini Alao though, just pray the light of Salvation will brighten his heart.
Bamky

Nov 11, 2011

Alhaji Alao, I Agree with Langbodo, you misled us, if Samson has not taken to your advise trying to get 3-1 instead of defending his2-1lead he would not have withdrawn Joel Obi,and we would have qualify.so please we are waiting for your apology for over analyzing .your advice to Siasia/Keshi is right .We may qualify for Afcon 2013 but Keshi does not have it there to get us the Cup.please let's start sending him and his crew on refresher courses and attachments now,Hope at 62years he can still learn,Oh sorry 52years..I love Mumini Alao though, just pray the light of Salvation will brighten his heart.
Kola,usa

Nov 11, 2011

Alhaji you better apologise for your part in causing Siasia his job. This is the bug that is going on around town, at first it was Osaze, Obasi and Aiyenugba, then they said it was the NFF especially Barrister Green and Chief Onigbinde ,and Eguavoen that sabotage him. Lately we have to listen to them telling us it was because he was not provided a rented apartment, a trainer, and other lame excuses. It feels so good that Siasia is no longer the coach, because there is so much peace around here, it has been chaos in the last one year. Everybody has been blamed for his failure, unless Siasia himself. Imagine a coach that won his first 4 matches , and the last 5 matches were so bad, and this guys could not think to know how he did not qualify, he won 1 lost 1 and drew 3 . If Siasia beat Ethiopia without your advise we would have qualified, but he chose to play 2-2. One thing that i know is life is sweet without Siasia. A lot of people talk about Keshi , that he failed with Mali, it beats me for people that does not know anything about football analysing situations. In Angola Keshi had a very young Mali team, with just a few stars, they were not better or more star studded than Nigeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroun or Algeria. There first match was with the host nation, they were humilated in the 1st half by 4 goals, just because they were inexperienced team ( it's been a long time Mali has been in AFCON before 2010 ), but it takes a very good and experienced coach to calm them down, make the right changes and bring them back to equalise the match at 4-4(the most exciting match in Angola 2010) .That match alone sold me on Keshi, i don't know how many coaches could bring a young team like Mali back from that kind of disaster?Anybody that is not just saying this is to make Keshi look bad , should please tell us the stars on that team compared to the countries i've mentioned. Their second match was against a much more experienced team in Tunisia and they lost by 1-0, but they won their last match by 3-1. With that 3 game experience they would had done a lot of damage if they qualify for tha next round.Nigerians been who we are , nothing about any other coach in Nigeria matters except Siasia, we did not give him any credit. As God will do it he is not the coach of our beloved Eagles, after a collousal failure, but the question is HOW LOW CAN HE GO AFTER WHAT JUST HAPPENED? From here nothing but the top.
Oloye Agba

Nov 12, 2011

I also agree that Mumini should apologise for misleading the entire Nation otherwise he should stop advising the Eagles at crucial matches, he should then limit his confusing analysis to Eagles friendly only. He has assume a point of reference to Nigerian soccer problems and he should do this with all caution. If Mumini should apologise, the empty heads at the glass house who call themselves the technical committee should all resign or be fired.It is clear that they have some broken glass (from glass house) in their brain.
Raphael

Nov 12, 2011

To those of you asking Alhaji Alao to apologise for misleading Nigeria, i ask you one question, Did he mislead the Super Chicken strikers into missing chance after chance against Guinea? If the answer is No, Then Keep quite and go look for something else to do. No sane person would say go for a 1 goal lead and defend it. Show me how many Naija teams are specialists at defending a single goal? If we were leading 3-1 and Guinea scored late would that not have ended 3-2? I was at the Bahrain national stadium watching their national team take on Iran in the 2014 world cup qualifier. With a 1-0 lead we were all expecting a win but with 2 minutes to go Iran equalized after Bahrain had been defending for the last 10minutes. Nigeria has never been a defensive minded playing country so they never knew how to go after a single goal result like the Old Italian teams....... As for the advice to Keshi I love this letter and everything you touched is the truth coming for what coaches need to do to push Nigeria higher. I hope Keshi will adopt Westerhofs style of selecting the type of players that he needs and not those this EPL crazy Nigerians want. God bless you Sir for your wise words.
Danorous

Nov 12, 2011

@ JORGE, IF U OPEN UR EYES WELL, U WILL SEE THAT SIASIA LISTENED TO D ADVICE OF THE EDITOR.WHAT ABOUT THE DISCIPLINARY ACT HE TOOK ON THE PLAYERS? THE PACY WAY THEY PLAYED THE GAME AND THEIR RECOVERY ( APART FROM THEIR STUPIDITY IN ABUJA) ? ABOUT EARLY ARRIVAL TO CAMP? I AM TIRED OF READING SOME LAME COMMENTS IN THIS FORUM
Qasim قسم

Nov 12, 2011

ALHAJI M. ALAO, more greese to uq elbow. I hope BIG BOSS is wise enough bcos .... a yoruba proverb says 'abo oro la so fun omoluabi to ba denu re yio di odidi' (meaning its half word dt is said 2 reasonable somebody when it enter d stomach it become whole) dt is a word is enough 4 a wise. i hope we all rise again wit our super eagle. @ donorous dont b tried pls, otherwise d forum will b one sided. if u loose dis u may win d next.
Lans

Nov 13, 2011

Please no body should say Mumuni Alao misled us. The facts and figures are all there for us to do the simple calculations and not wait for anybody to do it for us. This is what the coach and his team should have done when the FA failed to do its job. Personally I expected the coach to have done this analysis with his boys before the match and during the break. I don't think Mr Alao needs to tender any apology to anybody.

His advise to Siasia is great but its wisdom for Keshi to take to it. I hope Keshi will learn from history and do his job wisely. I pray our once noble Super Green Eagle will soar again in world football.
Titi Adeoye

Nov 14, 2011

@Raphael. Really no sane person will advice a team as you said to score 1 goal and start defending it. That person will be one drunkard football analyst from one remote village in Sri Lanka or a place like that. But looking at this issue of Mr Alao apologising, I am of the opinion that Mr Alao is right to tell the Eagle to win by 2 clears goals, I think he said this to make sure that Eagles steer clear of eventualities but he should have added a clause that 'guys whatever it will cost you, just make sure you win Guinea at any margin and the worst you guys will qualify as the 2nd runners up alongside with Guinea' All his advice was to deny Guinea qualification entirely and God knows how to pay back such selfish advice. No be chop and chop make life easy? Mr Alao's target was to make sure Nigeria qualify and Guinea did not qualify at all. I dey laugh oo.
Alonzi Eze

Nov 14, 2011

Can some one tell me what the NFF Technical committee's duties are. Why are they being heavily paid ? Are we just paying them for Mumini Alao and others to interpret football laws for them? Please stop this stupid discussion and let Alao be.
Moshud

Nov 14, 2011

One observation about Nigerian football fans is that, they are very mature enough and if this matured wisdom is applied to wider society, Nigeria would be a better place - I remove the football administrators from the maturity bracket. What I am getting at is thus; Sports analyst job is to speculate for the audience and the entertainment of the public and over time the speculation gets near to the outcome. The job of the coach/players is to listen and take what is realistic and test against reality. The job of the NFF is to organise football from begin to end. Look into the future, plan and think ahead for the good of the sport. Any opinion given before matches is not imperative on coaches or players to follow. Indeed, they should do their own calculations and permutations. And NFF should have their own in house statisticians for the coach. If Siasia relied solely on Mumini Alao opinion (regarding permutations and tactics) then one must questions Siasia's judgment and badly reflects on the NFF which indicate lack of able personnel for a modern day football administration. It means that the back office ability is very thin or lack leadership. Langbodo, Bamky and others line up and demand for apologies from Mumini Alao is an error of their part and an indication that Fans don't understand the way the modern game work and gives an indication why NFF is getting away with murder in terms of organisation. I would end with this, if big organisation in Nigeria is going to their market with a new product, the CEO would be asked by the board of directors about projections and my guess is that he/she won't quote economic journalists but would have sought the opinion of his team which would include economist etc. So why would football be different? The second question those who ask for Mumini Alao apologies should to ask themselves did the NFF chairman asked coach Siasia of Eagles chances and permutation and did the NFF Chairman check with his experts to make sure that the correct objective is pursed? Football supporters needs to grow up and understand individuals functions and stop blaming sports analysts like Mumini Alao for eagles woes. The Nigerian football is dieing NOT because they are no good players or lack of resources or lack of good coaches BUT because of incompetent football administrators and supporters should realize this fact and put pressure on the administrators to reform and deliver good eagles team for the nation.
The Watcher

Nov 15, 2011

It is only sad that Alhaji have been writing things like this in the past 20 years and our fortunes have not changed - rather it is getting worse. It tells me something is still not right.
I heard a wise man said recently that a man with experience is never at the peril of a man with arguments - this is absolutely true. All we are reading are not strange to us. We have been hearing them since 1998.
When Alhaji failed to take a clear and open stand against Siasia's sack, I knew there is trouble. I think he just missed the chance to provide an actual influence on Nigerian football when it mattered most. I can't understand how you write about the problem of changing coaches and yet fail to stand up to it when push came to shove. I respect men who knows the solutions and can point others to it, but I respect more those that would roll up their sleeves and join others to do the work no matter how dirty it is.
True, Siasia's issue was just a small part of the whole problem - but coming out to denounce a sack that is not completely justifiable would have sent a strong signals to those people at NFF and halt these mindless game of sacks. You journalists prep up coaches to go all the way and then disappear from his back like a mist when the chips are down.
I still don't understand why our own coaches cannot be support to do the right thing. You said you prefer foreign over local coach because of players indiscipline. Why can't we face the problem? No local coach can successfully maintain discipline not because they can't but because we will never let them. Or do you think Keshi would have the boldness to bench Enyeama or Osaze after Siasia's experience. Ones a coach loses his power in this area, he becomes just a figurehead. Till Jesus comes, attitude and mentality like this would never allow our coaches get the respect they deserve and would never be a success at home.
Articles like this would make naive fans think Keshi has all the things he needs to succeed. They will think matches are won on pages of newspapers. Good analysis ALONE does not win matches. Keshi is not playing a Nitendo game. When it comes down to details like arranging a simple flight to a game - we see confusion.
Now, journalists would start peddling players for the national team and feeding us with all kinds of gossips and predictions. We would be roughly brought down to earth when we lose or draw our first set of qualifying matches and everyone will call for Keshi's sack.
He would be sacked and the next coach would get Alhaji's same write-up. Next?
Amadi

Nov 15, 2011

Some people are losing their minds because Siasia was sacked, they said Mumini denouncing the sack would have made a difference, but HOW? What is wrong for him not to believe in Siasia? How is Mumini related to Siasia? These Siasia fans are miserable, i will like to see them in their day to day life, when a coach would have to listen to a journalist in order to be successfull that means he is not worthy of been a coach. Where were these people when other coaches were sacked ? Now they can call this a mindless game because of siasia. It's a shame for this people to think suspending Osaze and Enyeama INDEFINATELY is benching. How in this world can a coach think suspending anybody INDEFINATELY is the answer to discipline? No fans thinks Keshi or Siasia had or has all the tools to succed, but we think they have enough to. Keshi coached in Togo and Mali ,if he relate his experiences working in French speaking countries and the matter of fact poor countries, they will all know how good Siasia had it. When Amodu was sacked even after qualifying for the world cup and winning a bronze medal nobody cried except Amodu , why is life over for some people because Siasia lost his job. PLEASE GO AND GET A LIFE. It makes me think Siasia seeked the help of an evil spirit to win those silver medals, the way life has turned upside down for some people because of his problem. THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT
The Watcher

Nov 15, 2011

A Yoruba adage says when a child falls, he looks ahead and when an elder fall, he looks back. The issue here is not for or against Siasia but for the sanity of Nigeria.
I make bold to say again that Siasia was the least of our problem. The problem has not been dealt with. That is why a ridiculous NFA can give him some funny targets again. Where are there own targets? No one is asking! How is their own performance to be assessed? Who monitors the monitor? Again, another proverb - we left leprosy and tried to cure ringworm.
Standing for Siasia is not just standing for Siasia, but for all the coaches that are next in lines and what is good and proper. That is what most people didn't seem to realize. Immediately you mentioned Siasia, they think you are his die-hard fan. I am sure some will accuse Odegbami of being one too for those that care to read his column.
I make BOLD again to say - it is a mindless game. It has been played 10 times in the past 14 years and some are still swaying to its blinding music. God gave us memory so we can remember the past and correct the future.
Let those that have hears, hear...
The Watcher

Nov 15, 2011

A Yoruba adage says when a child falls, he looks ahead and when an elder fall, he looks back. The issue here is not for or against Siasia but for the sanity of Nigeria.
I make bold to say again that Siasia was the least of our problem. The problem has not been dealt with. That is why a ridiculous NFA can give him some funny targets again. Where are there own targets? No one is asking! How is their own performance to be assessed? Who monitors the monitor? Again, another proverb - we left leprosy and tried to cure ringworm.
Standing for Siasia is not just standing for Siasia, but for all the coaches that are next in lines and what is good and proper. That is what most people didn't seem to realize. Immediately you mentioned Siasia, they think you are his die-hard fan. I am sure some will accuse Odegbami of being one too for those that care to read his column.
I make BOLD again to say - it is a mindless game. It has been played 10 times in the past 14 years and some are still swaying to its blinding music. God gave us memory so we can remember the past and correct the future.
Let those that have hears, hear...
Eagle Eyes

Nov 15, 2011

I have followed this article closely and the comments, there are those who just blame Mumini for not backing Siasia when he was about to be sacked and others who again blame Mumini for giving a clearer analysis - looking at all possibilities for the game that kicked out of the ANC. Most commenters want someone to blame hence Mumini is a soft touch. I blame the administrators for the eagles ills and I share Moshud's sentiments. Only The watcher comes close yet, still relunctant to lay the blame at the foot steps at NFF. Even sports analyst just footsie at this idea. If this is the case then expectation of a world class national team is dead if the administrators are not going to change their ways but just continue the same. Also, blame the coach, sack him and hire another fall guy and at the same time waste the limited resources of NFF. And the backdrop of this policy is poor national and league teams. I understand that corruption or bad practice is in most FAs in every country but at least others pretend to something but do the job but exaggerate their cost. Nigerian fans would like swap these regimes for our current record of football administrators. What is wrong with the Nigerian football can't be rectified by any coaches but the administrators - period. Who are the monitors of the monitor - we the football fans and we are asleep NOT the sports analyst like Mumini, therefore i implore all Nigerian football fans to wake up and pressurize the football administrators to sit up and perform or we would out source their jobs to non nigerians. If we bring in foreign coaches why not foreign administrators. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. It is possible because without fans there would be no NFF, this is a gaunlet for fans and administrator alike.
Rebatan

Nov 18, 2011

let us face facts and put the blame in its proper place which is the glass house. they have ruined our football with their greed and corrupt practices. the only thing wrong with our football is the administration .are we not tired of laying off coaches? most of the NFF members do not have an idea of what they are doing. they only know ways of sharing the resources ment to build. i think it is high time those who sleep,eat, dream and think football take charge.the EFCC should help us look into theglasshouse books.
Jideibrahim

Nov 23, 2011

Dear Mumin,

You are the best coach Nigeria is unlikely to have. With or without adequate structures like: a good league, a good technical director/department, a good FA, a good fan base, etc, Sia1 should have succeeded, had he analytically peruse and understand your letter.

I m afraid he did not hence his sack. Painfully, I am quite sure Keshi will repeat same again ( not reading your letter critically). All the coaches that succeeded did because they applied at least 80 percent of your advice. Sia one applied less than 30%, because he was engulf in the euphoria of his selection as craved by the Nigerian Public. We even gave him a unique name/title/appelation- SIA 1.

How I wish Samson knows how much i love him; how i wish samson knows how much I wished him success. We should have retain him, both of us samson and Nigeria would have been better off, but the queue is too long. keshi, omokachi, oliseh, iroha, ezeogu, rufai, etc. Sorry Samson, you need to go back and rejoin the queue. better luck next time.

But keshi, please dont just read this letter apply it to the latter. It is your saving grace. saddle up, throw yourself into the work. Break away from the euphoria of your selection, not all freinds are friends and reduce your headline statements. get a press secretary, and go underground to work!

For those of us not engulfed by the dstv motivated love for foreign football teams; those of us that have choosen to be out and out NIGERIAN fans, it is really a trying and sad time. I wish us luck with the big boss Keshi!
cheers all