Last weekend I spent two days and a night in the city of Abuja with Samson Siasia, the Manager of Nigeria’s Olympic team to China and the man that gave up the opportunity of coaching the Super Eagles in order to complete his assignment with the young team he has been grooming for 4 years! In 2004 he assembled a group of young boys all under the age of 20 and trained them to challenge for the World Youth Championships in Holland. The team got to the finals of that event in great style and narrowly failed to win by a whisker, stumbling at the last hurdle to the fire power of a young Argentine player that has since grown to become one of the best players in the world – Messi of Barcelona FC!

I had invited Samson to attend the luncheon arranged for the four finalist schools of Shell Cup and use the opportunity to talk to the student footballers about what it takes to get to the top of the game. As usual Samson obliged me and came. It was a dream come true for most of the students who had the rare privilege of meeting the most respected coach in Nigeria at the moment from close up, and listening to him give them tips on how to move up in their football careers.
Samson was also present for the final match as well as the dinner organized that evening for invited special guests and officials. It was an opportunity to share some of my thoughts with him on how and why he gave up the opportunity of managing the Super Eagles for handling the Under-23 national team!
Samson told me he was not in a hurry for the Super Eagles job. He would rather take his time and move steadily through the ranks to get there one day when he would be very ready for it. He said he was going through a development process himself, learning along the way, neither bruising egos or making avoidable enemies. He was certain that at the right time in his evolution as a coach he would handle the senior national team. It was as simple as that. I looked at him with renewed respect and admiration and wished him well.

I have no doubt that Samson Siasia has what it takes to become a great manager – extensive and deep football playing experience, intelligence, a street-wise background, plus the will-to-win! He is not a boot licker and would not eat ‘shit’ because he is ‘hungry’. Samson’s composure at the gathering of some of the captains of industry present at the dinner underlined his growth as a person. He is bound for the top in his chosen career and the whole of Nigeria is waiting to see how his team would perform at the Olympics. That’s my one worry! I do not like the idea of making promises before major events such as the Olympics. A little modesty provides some security just in case, as is very wont in football, things do not go according to the script and football starts to play its customary nasty tricks. By promising to win the Gold at the Olympics Samson has indirectly put his future on the line. Should the team ‘fail’ he shall be judged not against the performance of his team but against the goal he has set for himself. He will soon find that the World Youth Championship is totally different from the Olympics. At this level most of the teams parade the bulk of their senior national teams and the competition is a lot stiffer. A little modesty in expectations therefore provides a good landing pad, just in case!
It was a great night out with Samson. I wish him and the Dream Team the best of luck in China.