DON'T CONDEMN SIASIA IF EAGLES LOSE TO ARGENTINA - IDOKO

Nigerians have been advised not to condemn Super Eagles chief coach, Samson Siasia if the team lose the June 1 friendly against Argentina at the National Stadium in Abuja.

Executive Director of the Ondo State Football Agency, Mike Idoko told Saturday Vanguard sports in an exclusive interview in Lagos that Siasia should not be judged with the match but after a period of at least two years.

He said this is because the best coach the country ever had was Dutchman Clemens Westerhof who was given a free hand for about five years to mould a formidable team, pointing out that same thing should be done to Siaisa.

Idoko said the friendly which is a grade 'A' match would be a process of building the team as well as selecting players that will be featured against Ethiopia in the return leg of the Africa Nations Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa next week.

'Like I said the other time, people shouldn't judge Siasia with the outcome of the Argentina match. The match is still a process of building the team which is the first grade 'A' match the country will play this year.

'We shouldn't use the match to judge him. The best coach we have ever had in Nigeria is (Clemens) Westerhof, and when he started, he built his team round the home-based players and at the same time he was linking our players to European clubs and other parts of the world for them to gain exposure.'

The former Team Manager of Lobi Stars of Makurdi advised that one or two home-based players should be given exposure in such a high profile friendly in order for them to overcome the fright of grade 'A' matches in future.