Siasia, a disciplined manager

Former Super Eagles’ striker and the current Coach of Flying Eagles, Samson Siasia, has been described as a disciplined coach, who knows what he wants and goes for it. This description came from a London-based invitee to the Flying Eagles’ camp, Rotimi Taylor.

Taylor, who is managed by former Enugu Rangers and Super Eagles’ defender, Kingsley Onye, also said he was pleased with Coach Siasia’s level of professionalism and patriotism in the discharge of his responsibilities.

The player, born of Nigerian parents, has spent most of his life in the United Kingdom. Coach Siasia invited him for the first time to represent the country. And according to the young player, who is still a student in the UK, he was born in Nigeria, but was taken to London while he was only four years old. His father is from Lagos State while his mother is an indigene of Warri in Delta State.
Said he: "I am a Nigerian. My dad is from Lagos while my mother is from Warri in Delta State. I left the shores of Nigeria when I was just four years old and since then, I have been living in London with my parents.

"I was invited by Coach Samson Siasia to play for Nigeria and if I eventually make his final list for the World Youth Championship that is billed for Egypt, I will be highly delighted.
"Coach Siasia is a highly disciplined coach, who knows what he wants and how to go for it. He is a great manager and I have respect for him. He is a thorough professional. I admire his managerial clout.
"In fact, I admire the entire members of the technical crew of the Flying Eagles because they are all professionals, who love to do their duties accordingly. They are all doing very well and I think it is Siasia’s good leadership quality that is rubbing off on his assistants.

He continued: "The life in camp is great. The feeling is great, all the players in camp are happy. The coach invited some foreign-based professionals to camp recently and they are already in camp. The whole environment is bubbling as we try to get used to one another because most of us are meeting for the very first time."

On Flying Eagles’ recent friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago, Taylor said the team did well since they were playing together for the first time. According to him, it’s true that they did not win the match, but they result was not a bad one.

"Nigerians should know that our match with Trinidad and Tobago was the first game we played together as a team. We came from different places and we had not trained together for too long before that friendly, in spite of that, we still pulled a draw with the visitors, who came with their complete team against us. Trinidad and Tobago have been on playing tour of the world but we are just starting.

So, for me, we had a good outing in that friendly and I believe we will do better in subsequent matches.
The player, who travelled back to London recently, said he had an understanding with Coach Siasia concerning his trip as he went back to London to write his school examinations, because he is still a student. He expressed the hope to rejoin camp immediately he rounds off what took him to London.

"I had an understanding with the coach and he advised me to come back as soon as I finish taking my exams and that is what I am going to do because I cherish this invitation to come and serve my fatherland. It is a rare privilege, which no right-thinking person would like to toy with.
"I am likely to return either at the end of June or early July depending on how my exams are arranged by the school," Taylor revealed.