Football worshippers in Nigeria were shocked to their bone marrow on Sunday, seeing Chelsea star, Mikel John Obi, in the covered stand of the National Stadium, Abuja, watching his colleagues shedding gallons of sweat to beat the Black Meteors of Ghana 3–2.
He was not spared, as he was booed and called unprintable names. Some called him arrogant boy. Some simply described him as an unpatriotic Nigerian who adorned himself with the garment of arrogance.
“Nigeria should forget about all these arrogant players,†Frank Ilaboya, former SWAN chairman, said. “The players are doing well even without Mikel. Who says this team really need him? You can see the way the players contested for every ball, risking their legs at times. Mikel won’t do that. Let him adopt England as his country.â€
After the gruelling encounter Samson Siasia looked fulfilled, as he stabbed the air with his fists. And when told that Mikel was on the stand, he gazed into the sky and when he looked down it was with harsh words for the player, saying: “The choice is his, whether to play for Nigeria or not.â€
He added emphatically: “I can’t beg Mikel to play for his country. I have a team of good and committed players who can win the Olympic ticket for Nigeria. I knew he was around but I don’t have to beg him.
This team parades no super star. In fact, I don’t need a super star in my team.
“What’s more important to me right now is the three points, which we already have in the kitty. What we need now is to go to South Africa to consolidate the lead and ensure that Ethiopia do not escape defeat. Our focus is the ticket and I believe nothing can derail us. I have a good team and have no intention of changing them now. As it is the case in football, I’m sure we’ll improve with every match.â€
Over 20,000 Nigerians watched the Siasia boys live at the Abuja Stadium, and they all went home showering praises on the players and the handlers. The boys, who scored the opening goal through Obinna Nsofor in the third minute, were undaunted, even as Ghana cancelled the lead and went ahead with a superb freekick by Asamoah Gyan.
They did not only play well but contested for the ball at all points. Even if they had lost, the players would still have been carried shoulder-high the way the fans did after the victory.
“Siasia is a World Cup coach,†a lady fan, who simply called herself Sandra, said. “The NFA should pay him well. What’s Berti Vogts work that he smiles to his country with 50,000 euro of our money every month. Believe it or not, Vogts is not better than Siasia. These boys have risked everything to wipe away our tears after the humiliation in Uganda on Saturday.
“You could see the way the Eagles played as if their was nothing at stake. They were too heavy, with lack of commitment. I think the NFA should do something about the Eagles, fast. Is it not disheartening that Uganda beats Nigeria, with all the big names we have! The defeat shows eloquently that there are no soccer minors again. It also shows that we are not serious with football development in Nigeria.
“South Africa beat Chad 4–0, while Morocco hammered Seychelles with the same margin but, here in Nigeria, we have to struggle to even beat Niger 2–0.
“We have to beg our soccer idols to play for the country. Even when they are on break, they still refuse to report to camp. If I were Vogts, I would not have used Obafemi Martins even if the Ugandans were to beat us 12–0. We really need discipline in the Eagles, as well as code of conduct,†Siasia opined.
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phatboy
Dguy
....anyways....its his call ... 
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