Siasia vows to build a national team

By Albert Akota

As the national U-23 men’s football team, the Dream Team VI technical crew continues to juggle with players in camp, Head Coach Samson Siasia has promised to build a formidable team for the country.

Coach Siasia said many of those especially from the academies and the Premier League have shown hunger and zeal to do the nation proud in the various competitions the team will be involved in next year.

“Getting the best legs to play for the country is work in progress, and so far I am impressed with what I have seen from those who have made themselves available to be looked at”.

The gaffer said himself and his assistants would try and see how to prune down the number in camp by Friday 5th December so as for them to concentrate on looking at the invited foreign based players who are expected to arrive camp by the weekend of6th-7th of December.

Monday’s evening screening session was watched by Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Deputy General Secretary of the NFF and Alhassan Yakmut of the NSC.

Already the team’s camp has seen such established Premier League stars like Rangers goalie Akor Itodo, Warri Wolves pair of Freedom Omofonma and Etebor Oghenekaro, Pillars Azeez Shobowale, Bayelsa’s Azubuike Okechukwu and Tonbara Tiongoli, Adamu Hassan of Pillars, Obioma Arinze of El Kanemi Warriors, Chima Akas of Sharks and gold winning U-17 player Godwin Savior of Plateau Utd amongst a host of other players on ground.

The fight for a place in the team has seen players defying all odds to be selected.

Meanwhile the Dream Team VI will today tackle Ine Stars Football Club of Benin in one of its numerous friendlies lined up to put the team in shape.

 The Ine Stars friendly which is expected to be exciting will be played at the FIFA Goal Projectat 4pm.

On Friday the team will battle Ace Football Club of Kaduna at the same venue, and same time.