Samson Siasia: From grace to grass – Finding his way back

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Samson Siasia has finished the five years that FIFA banned him for alleged match-fixing.

A match-fixer attempted to enlist Siasia as a club coach in 2010 and offered him employment advantages in return for fielding particular players.

Despite two months of negotiations, Siasia’s requirements were eventually denied or the club could not finance them, thus concluding the situation.

Siasia was originally given a lifetime ban by the world football regulatory body.

The matter was ultimately settled at the Court of Arbitration for Sports, or CAS, after the former Super Eagles player and coach brought it there.

A life sentence was found excessive by CAS for a first-time offender who did not participate in the offence.

But they maintained that in order to act as a deterrence, Siasia had to be punished.

Siasia is back playing football, most likely having learnt his lesson.

There have been rumours that Siasia would be named the future coach of the Mighty Jets Football Club in Jos.

But has there been irreversible harm to his reputation?

BBC employee Oluwashina Okeleji says to ZINGTIE: “Well, I think when you have issues around bribery and reputational damage, it will definitely have its effect and negative impact around you.

“So I think a lot of people will still view him as undoubtedly one of the best youth coaches in the continent.

“The emphasis is on youth coaches. Siasia has achieved success with the Under-20 and Under-23 teams.

“It is something you can never overlook. He completed Nigeria’s medal haul in Olympics football with silver and bronze. So that tells its own story.

“The case itself. It was not a story of someone who offered or accepted to do what the guy accused him of doing. But the fact that he encouraged the conversation and he didn’t dismiss the intention to offer him anything.

“It added question marks around his personality as a coach. So, some people will be careful if such a person can be trusted. In life, they say everyone who has served terms, should be given a chance. It’s just a lot people don’t forget and can be unforgiving.

“But he needs to be given a chance and he should tread carefully, one step at a time. You don’t just come out from nowhere and say I want this as soon as possible. That for me will rank as entitlement. Everyone has to work their way back and he deserves a chance.”

According to ZINGTIE, Siasia’s name was mentioned as a potential successor to Finidi George, the Super Eagles head coach who resigned, even during his suspension.

Siasia, who is currently 57 years old, was instructed by Okeleji to improve himself and advance in player management and tactics.

“There is no doubt about his ability as a manager,” he notes.

“Unfortunately, the records are there. As coach of the Super Eagles, he failed to qualify them for the 2012 edition of the African Cup of Nations (in Gabon & Equatorial Guinea).

“And when he came in as caretaker manager, the team failed to make it to another AFCON under his watch.

“Those are things people need to know.

“No doubt, he sets up his team well and they are enjoyable to watch, because they play good football. People enjoy his tactics and how he controls things.

“But it is just his ability to get a team at senior level. In my opinion, I think Samson Siasia became a victim of his own success.

“Not every coach who succeeds at youth level can translate it to senior level. But there is now an opportunity for him to grow, to learn and acquire badges.

“Also, apart from the knowledge of the game, man management is something Siasia needs to work on.

“There is a lot for him to do. Even Pep Guardiola is also changing and tweaking.

“I have a problem with the class of ’94. They are always comparing and talking about their time. But during their time, goalkeepers were catching back passes! Things have changed. Football has evolved. So as a manager, you have to learn a lot.

“And I don’t think that during his time out, Siasia tried to improve himself. He was just going saying ‘I am innocent’ and ‘people need to help me’.

“I don’t think FIFA banned him from learning. He just spent most of the last five years trying to fight, instead of improving his skills.”

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