By Maduabuchi Kalu on August 30, 2016

Former international goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph, has called on Nigerians who are asking former international striker and the Coach of Dream Team VI to the just concluded 2016 Rio Olympics, Samson Siasia, to rescind his decision of quitting Nigerian Football for now to respect Siasia’s decision.

Joseph, a gold medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics said there was no need putting pressure on the Bayelsa State-born football tactician to rescind his decision to quit Nigerian football because he wears the shoe and knows where it pinches him.

The international goalkeeper is of the opinion that the former Super Eagles’ gaffer knows the rationale behind his decision to call it quits with the country’s football having served the country in various capacities starting as a player for the national team to becoming a Coach. Dosu Joseph stated this in a Star FM sports programme, Etisalat Mega sports on Monday.

“I think that Nigerians should respect the decision of Coach Samson Siasia to quit Nigerian Football for now,” Joseph stated.

“I believe that before Siasia came up with the decision, he must have pondered over it and as a result I am of the opinion that his decision should be respected by Nigerians. There is no gain saying that so far, Siasia has exhibit selfless service to his fatherland and if after pondering his experiences so far he decides to call it quit with Nigerian Football for now, Nigerians should accept it because that’s his decision. He is the one who wears the shoe and knows where it pinches him. That is why we should respect his decision.

“As far as I am concerned, Siasia is one of the most patriotic Nigerians having served the country without counting many ugly situations that have littered his way all this period he has been carrying out his assignments to the nation.

“Of course, he is not the first person to have called it quit as a coach. We have examples of Coaches who after winning trophies called it quits including winning the World Cup. So, I am of the view that people should not put undue pressure on him to rescind his decision.

“Moreover, we should realise that he said that he was quitting Nigerian Football for now which means he can still make a detour in the nearest future. Of course he complained about certain things. I believe that if the atmosphere is made conducive for him to work; he wouldn’t mind coming back because Siasia loves Nigeria,” Dosu said.

It is recalled that Dream Team VI happened to be the only team that put Nigeria on the medals’ table at the just concluded 2016 Rio Olympics as the Siasia-led boys defied all odds to win bronze in Rio after defeating Honduras by 3-2. Last week, Siasia announced quitting Nigerian Football for now citing the humiliation by his employers, the Amaju Pinnick-led board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and none payment of his salary for five months, including collecting the only car given to him from his wife while he was away in Rio as some of the reasons he decided to quit.

There is no gain recalling the hardship that the Sports and Youth Development Minister, Solomon Dalung and NFF put the Dream VI as they trained for the games in Atlanta, the United States of America. The matter became an international embarrassment for Nigeria as the team was bailed out at the last minute by Atlanta based Airline, Delta Airline few hours before their opening game against Japan.

As we read this, the Amaju Pinnick-led board of the NFF is yet to redeem the agreement with the United States based Airline. For some, the announcement by Siasia that he has quit Nigeria Football for now did not come to them as a surprise, because Siasia and his boys suffered untold hardship and humiliation in the hands of the Ministry and the Federation.

A case in point is the Hon Minister’s mischievous allegation that Siasia and his boy left for the United States of America without his knowledge even as he accused the coach of human trafficking. Too many ugly things happened but God vindicated Siasia, as he is fondly called as his boys were able to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians by winning the bronze of the football event of the games.

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 30, 2016

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