Samson Siasia Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Although many never gave the Dream Team IV any chance of coming home with a medal in the Men’s Football event at the Beijing Olympics, Hon. Felix Amechi Obuah says he is not surprised at the spectacular showing of the Samson Siasia-tutored team at the global showpiece.

The former Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State and President of Onelga United FC of Omoku, told Saturday Sunsport in an exclusive telephone chat that he believes in the technical and tactical competence of Coach Siasia, who he described as an ‘achiever.’

“Samson Siasia has been an achiever,” the football enthusiast and philanthropist popularly called ‘Go Round’ began.

“I gave the Dream Team IV a chance at the Beijing Olympics even though many people wrote them off. I am not surprised that they have done so well,” he went on.
Go Round thumbed-up for Siasia for transforming a team of average players into a world-beating squad, tipping the Dream Team IV to undertake Nigeria’s campaign at the 2010 World Cup finals scheduled for South Africa.

“Dream Team IV are our future Super Eagles,” he declared. “With this team, we can win the 2010 World Cup. I really commend Coach Siasia for doing a wonderful job.
“I knew he had a vision from the way and manner he opted out of the Super Eagles’ job, preferring to concentrate and complete the job he started with the Dream Team IV right from their Flying Eagles’ level where he guided the Nigerian team to win silver at the World Youth Championship in Holland in 2005.

“Siasia has proved that he is not a tribalist from the way he had selected the players for the Beijing Olympics. He based his selection purely on merit. He selected only the players, who are hungry for honours.

“I am particularly impressed with the way he called the bluff of John Mikel Obi, who never showed any commitment to play at the Olympics. By leaving Mikel out of the Olympics squad, and with the impressive showing of the team at the event, Siasia has been vindicated. He has succeeded in proving that we do not need to continue to rely on big names in the Super Eagles to win trophies. What we need are players who are hungry to make a name for themselves and then do the nation proud.
“Look at how the Dream Team improved with every match at the Beijing Olympics. Interestingly, the only over-aged player in the team, Osaze Odemwingie, justified his inclusion in the squad, which goes to prove that Siasia knows his job very well,” Hon. Obuah maintained.

In a separate interview, former Commissioner for Sports in Benue State, Hon. Mike Kusah, confessed that the Dream Team IV surpassed his expectations, even though he believed in the Samson Siasia-tutored squad.

“I have always believed in the Dream Team, but honestly, their performance at the Olympics has exceeded my expectations,” he said. For instance, I knew they would beat the Belgians in the semi-final match, but certainly, not as wide as 4–1 margin.
Kusah hailed Siasia for what he described as the Dream Team’s new-found technique of shooting from far range. He, however, noted that he was particularly thrilled with the fact that Siasia approached every match with a different game plan.

“I am thrilled by the new-found technique of the Dream Team of shooting from far range. They used that technique to confound their opponents, who did not have any answer to the sporadic shots coming from both the attackers, midfielders as well as the defenders.
“But what excited me most about Siasia, was the fact that he had a different game plan for every match. He would correct the mistakes of the last match and came up with a new formation in the next match.

“I really believe in the Dream Team, but I don’t believe in the senior national teams, the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons, who can’t go beyond the African continent,” Kusah regretted.