Siasia Appeals To Clubs On Release Of Players For National Team Assignment

Head Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia has called on clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League and the Nigeria National League to try and understand with him concerning the release of players in the team's camp for League matches, as he prepares for the 2016 Olympics qualifying fixture against Congo next month.


Speaking at the team's training ground in Abuja on Tuesday, Coach Siasia said he is very much aware of the challenges that not having the players pose to the Clubs' quest in the League, but he earnestly pleaded for the understanding of the Clubs concerning release of these players for mid-week and weekend games .

"It will be impossible to release the players for mid-week and weekend games, as it will mean not having enough time to train with them in camp.

"While I appreciate the sacrifices these clubs have to bear in releasing their players to the National Team, the reality is that releasing them back to their clubs for mid-week and weekend games will mean that I won't have any player in camp to train with, as nearly all my players play in both leagues. In the actual sense, I will have to release them for mid-week games on Tuesday, then they will also travel with their teams for weekend games almost immediately after these mid-week games."

The U-23 gaffer then added that he will try releasing these players for weekend games as it will enable him and his technical crew assess them to know if they have been able to assimilate what they have been taught in camp, giving the players time to improve for both club and country.