SIASIA HOPES TO BUILD 'NOAH'S ARK'

After a tour of some European countries, Samson Siasia returned to Nigeria happy about what he has seen.

He was in Europe to hold talks with some players born of Nigerian parents but who are yet to play for Nigeria. He also met the likes of Chinedu Ogbuke who were down with injury but now gradually returning to the field.

Siasia visited England, Germany, Poland among other countries. He met pretty young players.

'I'm building for 2014 and I want to be focused on this,' he said cheerfully, adding 'when Noah was building The Ark, people were laughing at him. Nobody knew who was going to be in there. That is the attitude. I have to gather a lot of talents and begin to build. I don't know who will  eventually be in the team but I know the qualities of players I want in the 2014 World Cup team.'

In Poland Siasia met Ugochukwu Ukah, a defender who plays for Widzew Lodz. He was born in Italy and grew up playing football there. He has played for Parma, Regienna, Truetina, Pro Vasta.

In Germany, he met Bayer Leverkusen forward Sidney Sam, a 23 year old player born in Kiel, Germany. He moved on to Hoffenhein where he met with Chinedu Ogbuke who was out of action for long on injury.

Siasia met the kid sensation in Arsenal called Chuks Aneke who is just 18 years old.

'I spoke with the players and also met with the parents of some of them. They were happy that we all met. If Aneke comes it will be good for him to start with the Under 20 World Cup in Columbia and we will all assess him from there. Sidney is a good forward who can also play from the right or left side of the midfield. It will be good to have him play for Nigeria and I told him the benefits of that,' Siasia said. Aneke and Sidney have all played for junior teams of England and Germany respectively.

'I also spoke with Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi and the discussion went well.'

Siasia is already in Lagos for the burial of Olubayo Adefemi, his player at the Under 17 and Olympic teams. 'It's very sad to lose a young player like that. It's painful, very painful.'