Daniel Amokachi, has advised Coach Samson Siasia

Former Everton and Super Eagles’ striker, Daniel Amokachi, has advised Coach Samson Siasia to concentrate more on discovering local talents and transforming them into great players, instead of moving round in search of players in Europe as he works towards returning the national team to winning ways.

Amokachi, who started his career in the local league, said the experience he garnered as a former player and manager of the Super Eagles, had given him an edge above other commentators on how to revive the senior national team.
He, however, said that Siasia would know how to identify and nurture players from the local league, and therefore, implored him to remain firm in his approach at rebuilding Eagles.

“I am in the school of thought that believes that the future of our football lies with the local league,” Amokachi stated. “And I also believe that Siasia, who passed through the local league, shares in my opinion. He did it in the time past by assembling a bunch of unknown players that surprised the world at different occasions.
“It will not be a year’s job to get the team set for the real action, but I believe that Nigerians will understand the situation we are in right now.

“I am a product of the local league and I don’t see the disparity between the local players and their foreign-based counterparts. The only difference may be the environment they play in and the remuneration,” he continued.
“I am not saying that the bulk of foreign players that make up the national team squad at the moment should be discarded, the approach for replacing them should be a gradual one that will allow the local players to understand the intrigues associated with playing at the top level.

“The Black Stars of Ghana, for instance, had new blood injected into it by Coach Milovan Rajevac when he resumed duty as the team’s handler. When he brought in young players, most people thought that he was crazy, but at the end of the day, Ghanaian football was better for it.
“Who says Nigerian League does not have enough potential players with which we can raise about two formidable national teams? I coached Enyimba International of Aba and travelled all over the country with the team, and I can report authoritatively that Nigeria is blessed with stars waiting for opportunities to blossom.

“But I have to request that club administrators in the country and match officials should help Siasia in many ways,” Amokachi continued. “I am aware that club officials try very hard to win their home matches by inducing referees to the detriment of the league. So, I want to charge the board of the Nigeria Premier League to wake up to its duties and make sure that such nasty incidences are eradicated from our league.
“You can imagine an away team that had played so well to deserve a point in a match, losing a game on added time, probably through questionable penalty shootout. Such does not give the league the desired flair, and it’s a pity.
“I would say that the league started well this season, but my prayer is that the momentum should be sustained,” he concluded.
source:http://www.sunnewsonline.com/