Denies Report He Will Quit Post If...
Says Eagles Can Play Anywhere In Nigeria



FOOTBALL:
Contrary to insinuations among players and officials of the Leone Star of Sierra Leone that the Super Eagles Head Coach, Samson Siasia, insulted their coach Christian Cole by calling him a comedian during a post-match press conference held at the Media Hall of the Teslim Baliogun Stadium on Wednesday, February 9 Siasia has denied intentionally doing so but was only joking.

 The Eagles team defeated the visitors 2-1 in the friendly tie, but the Sierra Leone head coach blamed the centre referee from Benin Republic, Aguidissou Prestin, for their defeat in the hands of the Nigerian team. He also boasted that his team would beat the Eagles on a neutral ground. He said this while the Nigerian coach and Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, just entering the Teslim Balogun Stadium media hall for their own session of the post match conference.

 Siasia was answering a question during the interview and disclosed then that, “I am satisfied with the players for now. I did not say it was going to be easy playing against Sierra Leone but it was a good start and I am pleased with my players. The Sierra Leoneans came over here to win just like their comedian coach said but of course we lost our shape in the second half. We have a lot of injuries and we had to try out Nigerian based players which actually paid off when Ehis (Ekhigo Ehiosun) scored the second goal.

 Siasia on Tuesday came out to apologize to Cole, claiming that he was just exchanging jokes like the visiting coach did during his own chat with the Nigerian media. He pleaded that he never intended to disregard Cole’s person and status as a head coach of a national team and that he was only joking too.

 “Truly I was only joking during the press conference. Coach Christian Cole, is an amiable and very interesting person. He made everybody happy at the interview session and we all enjoyed him. When he claimed that his team could beat Eagles on a neutral ground, I jokingly said what has now become media hype.

 “I can never disrespect him at all. I wanted to joke like he did too. He was very funny during the chat with the press. I am very sorry if he took it that way. For him to lead his team to play against us in such a very short time speaks volumes of his love for our team and our country. So such person should be highly regarded not to talk of disrespecting him. Once again I am sorry if he took that way”, Siasia pleaded.

 Meanwhile, Siasia has denied reports quoting him of threatening to resign his post as a result of alleged misunderstanding between him and Nigeria Football Technical Committee boss, Barrister Christopher Green, concerning the choice of Kaduna as the chosen venue of the Nigeria versus Ethiopia’s Africa Nations Cup qualifier slated for March 29.   

“Firstly I would say with all sincerity that I did not offer interview of such to any reporter as regards what was published. I was with the Secretary General of the NFF (Musa Amadu) on Monday and he can bear me witness. I am not the type that would say something and deny it.

“What I think should be paramount in the minds of every true lover of the Super Eagles is how to achieve resounding victory against visiting Ethiopia come March. I can never stop any reporter from doing his or her work but they should please report exactly what happened or what I say. I am a friend of the media and where I am today is through Almighty God, the media and soccer loving Nigerians. So I won’t like a situation where I would have any problem with any reporter or medium. Please let us work together in the interest of football in our country.

“Wherever the NFF wants us to play the match we will play. I didn’t have any disagreement or argument with Barrister Green on this issue. Now we are working hard together (with the NFF Technical Committee) to ensure we have a good and fruitful match.

“Barrister Green has been very supportive since I was appointed. Right now we are working together with him and other top members of the NFF as regards getting quality friendly matches for the Eagles. It is only through friendly matches that we would have the opportunity to assess the quality and fitness level of the players and also discover more talents at home and abroad”, Siasia summed up.