DREAM Team coach Samson Siasia has expressed anger and dissatisfaction over the way his team has been abandoned by the authorities even as they prepare for the U-23 AFCON to be hosted in Senegal. The competition will also serve as qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Speaking on Wednesday, Siasia accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of showing complete lack of care. He also wants President Muhammadu Buhari to effect enduring change in sport.
“The federation keeps saying they don’t have money but they cannot come out to tell you why they don’t have money, we are all liars in this country, and we can’t tell the truth why we don’t have money to run our team,” an angry Siasia said on Brila FM.
“If President Buhari and his people are there and wish to make changes, it has to be a positive change. Sport is a very big part of this country.
“You did not pay players and you want them to come and give their best, how possible is that?
“Nigerian league players will say they have three outstanding games, leave camp with the excuse they have to go and play on Wednesday and Saturday, so when will we have players that we can say we have a team. So whatever happens I won’t be held responsible, it’s a big problem. How are we going to survive in this kind of situation?”
The former Super Eagles’ coach, who also accused the NFF of paying double bonus to the home based players for qualifying for the CHAN 2016, said the Dream Team is currently not ready for the event in Senegal next month, and are also not prepared for the Olympics.
“We are not doing anything yet, we’re just sitting there. The players will come one day and the next day they go to their clubs, they fly up and down. Trust me we are not prepared for any Olympic and if anything (wrong) happens, I will not be held responsible.
“Buhari is making that change, accepted, we thank him for what he is doing but there is no money in the system to do anything, and those people in the federation I don’t know who they are afraid of, instead of them (NFF) to explain to them (presidency) what they are going through, they just sit down there and keep saying they don’t have money, so where is the money now?
“We can’t just sit here quiet and die because we cannot tell them the truth of what is going on, I am tired of this thing.”
Meanwhile, Siasia has begged Nigerians to come to his rescue as he has not been paid for three months now.
“I have tried to play along but for three months, I have not been paid, just promises and all that. Where am I going to have the energy to perform from?” Siasia told Abuja Radio Hot FM on Wednesday.
The 48-year old also claims his players have no training kits, and added that as well as not having an official car, they are yet to be paid a dime for their bronze medal finish at the last All Africa Games.
“We are yet to be paid for our participation at the All Africa Games but CHAN Eagles qualified and got their money.
“The way we travel is a mess. We have no training kits. It’s a shame a national team has no kits to train with.
“I have kept quiet for almost a year now, but nothing is happening. I haven’t been paid in three months and I have no car,” Siasia claimed.
The can of worms opened by Siasia is coming just a month before the start of the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which serves as qualifiers for the Olympic Games.
The coach has already made it clear that he should not be held responsible in the event Nigeria fails to make it to Rio same way the country missed out at the London Olympics.
The Nation
