The Sun News On-line

The book of Proverbs says: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Parents have some important roles to play in the upbringing of their wards, and the Under-23 Coach, Samson Siasia could not escape this parental discipline as a teenager.

In an exclusive interview, Siasia told Daily Sunsport how his parents tried all they could to stop him from playing the game that brought him fame and honour as a player and a coach, but they could not win the battle against his destiny.

“I still remember vividly the day my mum came to chase me home from a football field, asking me to go and cook, and I wondered why I should when the girls were at home and could cook better. In those days, football was not reckoned with, but for the fact that we came from the streets of Ajegunle in Lagos, all we could do was to play. So, I had several rough encounters with my parents over football.

“They, however, had a change of heart when I wanted to go to Gaskiya College, where I did not pay school fees because I was a member of the school team from my form one. They mellowed because they did not have the money to pay for my school fees. That was how I got the license to play football from my parents.

“They came to watch me play my games after then, and all through the period when I was in the national team, my parents were always around to watch and cheer me during games.”
The Bayelsa-born former Super Eagles’ striker has so endeared himself to the hearts of Nigerians that many felt pained he was not given the job to coach the Super Eagles. He took consolation on the fact that he would be leading the National Under-23 team to the Beijing Olympics and that his time for a bigger assignment would soon come.

WHO IS SIASIA?
My name is Samson Siasia. I was born in Ajegunle, Lagos State and I grew up there. We are a family of 11, made up of six boys and five girls. Out of these, only my two younger brothers, Alabani and Victor played football. I had my primary and part of my secondary education in Ajegunle, but completed my secondary education at the famous Saint Finbarrs College in Akoka, Lagos.
My journey to stardom started at St Finbarrs where I was invited to the junior national team in 1983. I played for the Flying Eagles, Super Eagles and I played professional football in Belgium, France, Saudi Arabia and USA before injury forced me out of kicking the ball.
I am currently the coach of the national Under-23 team. I also won a silver medal as the coach of the Flying Eagles squad that lost in the final of the World Youth Championship to Argentina.
I am from Bayelsa State and not Rivers as many people would believe. We were formerly in Rivers State until Bayelsa was carved out of it. I don’t go home, so do not ask me about home. For us, Lagos, and Ajegunle to be precise is our home. My parents are both alive and they live in the Okoko area of Lagos.

MARITAL LIFE
I am married to my beautiful wife, who had been a great influence to my career. We met in Benin City when I was playing for Flash Flamingoes FC. She is my number one fan. I am blessed with four kids, three boys and one girl. They are all in the United States of America.
Two of my kids are following my footsteps by taking to football. Samuel and 11-year-old Sean are serious with the game, but I see Sean being a great footballer. I am not only encouraging him, but also working on him. I am teaching him new skills and I think he is heading for greatness because he love the game.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER
If I had not taken football as a career, I don’t really know what I would have been today. Honestly, it had never crossed my mind on what to do aside football. It is wonderful to note that the football that came to me as a hobby is now what has turned out to became a successful career. Getting paid for doing what you enjoy doing men! It is a good job!
When I was in school, I loved arts and I thought one day I would become an artist until football changed all that. I also thought about going to read Physical and Health Education at the University of Ibadan, but my love for football and its attraction denied me all that.

WHY I AM NEVER RUFFLED
I am never worried the moment I step into the pitch, either as a player or as a coach, because I am a positive man. I love challenges and I am focused. I always give my best at any point in time and whatever happens afterwards is the will of God. I always feel fulfilled that I have done my part to the best of my ability.
I draw my confidence from thinking positive and that if you prepare well the result will come. When we failed to qualify for the All Africa Games, fans booed us and said all kinds of things about my team, but I was never ruffled, instead, I took it as a challenge to ensure that we get the Olympic ticket.

MY DREAM
It is the dream of every coach to take a team to the World Cup and possibly, win it. As a player, I went to the World Cup, but we crashed out in the second round. Therefore, I want to go to the World Cup as a coach, go far in it and possibly win it. It would be a brilliant idea to take some young players to conquer the world. I am motivated by the reception we received when we lost to Argentina in the final of the WYC in Holland in 2005. I believe Nigeria will win the World Cup in the near future.

WHY I AM LOVED
Nigerians love me because I am humble and straightforward. I don’t beat about the bush and I don’t fear any one, but I respect everyone no matter who you are. I think that is one of the reasons why I am popular. The other reason could be that I got results with the national team both as a coach and as a player.

LOSING EAGLES’ JOB
I was not pained that I didn’t get the job. I applied for the job not that I wanted it desperately, but to satisfy my fans who felt I am very qualified to coach the Super Eagles. I appreciate the confidence Nigerians who felt I should be there had in me. That was why I applied and attended the interview. If I had not gone for the interview, they would have branded me an ingrate. I thank them for all the support, but the truth was that I have a job to do with the Olympic team but I didn’t want to disrespect my fans, that was why I said ‘no’ to the job.
The coaches they selected are sound. I believe they can do the job while I wait for my turn. I wish them the best of luck. I will always give them my total support anytime any day.

WHEN I RETIRE
When I leave coaching, I would want to retire as a proprietor of a football academy, because I love kids and I would want to teach them how to develop to become great players. By so doing, I would be giving back to the society what I got from them.

POLITICS
That I am popular among football fans is no license to delve into politics. It actually crossed my mind to govern Bayelsa State one day because we need someone with a lot of credibility and a lot of discipline, because the state is highly blessed. If I get there, I am going to be the first state chief executive that will walk the streets without security and without being harassed by the public. This I will do by giving the people their share of the cake to bringing comfort to them.
I think what the people in the villages need most is not luxury, but the essentials of life like water, food, shelter, good roads, schools and hospital plus electricity. If you give them all these, there won’t be any problem.
The biggest setback in Nigeria is that everybody wants to grab. Nigerians are greedy and they are never fulfilled. They want to have everything to the detriment of the people who are on the other side. I mean, the poor. That is why I don’t like politics. Politicians don’t say the truth. Thank God all that is changing now, as the present administration is working according to the rule of law. If it continues this way, one might give it a shot.

ON MIKEL OBI
Mikel is talented, but he has been giving me a lot of concern. Whenever I meet him, we laugh and talk. He is a good kid, but there are areas he is not getting it well. Can you imagine that Mikel doesn’t pick his calls? It is like the only way you can talk to him is when you go through his manager, Shittu. It is wrong, because you need to sound out a player first and know how he is doing before inviting him for a match
After I called him up twice to play for the Under-23 team and he turned them down, I still gave him another chance. When we met in Ghana, he promised that he would play for me against South Africa, so I called him and Taye Taiwo, but he still failed to show up. When I called Shittu to know why, he told me that Mikel would come after the big game between his team, Chelsea and Arsenal then. I expected him to come on a Monday after the match on Sunday, but Shittu said he would come on Tuesday. Then I told him that he would not go to the Olympics if he comes on Tuesday, because that day would be late so he should not bother to come.
Mikel has not played for us for some years now, so we are not going to miss him at the Olympics. One does not miss what he does not have. We can do with other players. I am optimistic that we shall win a medal at the Olympics.

HOW LARGE MY PURSE IS?
I am rich in my heart when you talk about being rich. Or you mean property and investments? I am not like Kanu and Okocha, those guys are the rich players we have around. I did not really play for big teams in my days, but gradually, I am working my way towards the class of rich Nigerian footballers. I am comfortable now, very comfortable.

WHAT FOOTBALL BROUGHT TO ME?
The game has brought me joy and pain. Joy most times, but I regretted it when we did not qualify for the 1990 World Cup and when people wanted to crucify me, saying that I did not pass the ball to Rasheed Yekini against Ivory Coast for him to score. The hatred against me lasted for a long time and I lost my position to Daniel Amokachi. That was really a sour spot in my career because the same people that hailed me suddenly hated me

GREATEST MOMENT
Playing in the 1994 World Cup and registering my name on the scorers’ sheet against Argentina has remained my best moment in football. I know that my name is in the World Cup history as one of those that have scored in the mundial. I felt overjoyed playing against the great Maradona. It was magical and I treasure that day.