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Samson Okpako: Samson Siasia made me better

Okpako: Siasia made me a better player

Posted: 2010-04-20 15:06

Kano Pillars midfielder Solomon Okpako credits his progress from Under-20 reject to Super Eagles invitee to Samson Siasia, who axed him from the Flying Eagles team.

At the time, Okpako was acknowledged as one of the best holding midfielders in the domestic league, but was as shocked as league watchers when Siasia told him he was not good enough to make the squad to Egypt.

"I was surprised, but I was not disappointed because football has its ups and downs for every player and I felt that maybe it was not my time," Okpako told KickOffNigeria.com.

"But when the coach dropped me, he told me the things I was doing wrong. Some of the things he said was that I was not going forward enough and I was not joining up quick enough with the rest of the team when we were attacking.

"So I went back to Kano Pillars and I told them what the coach said and what he asked me to do."

Okpako, who will turn 20 in May, said the change was almost instant.

"The coaches there helped me to work on it and I started seeing the improvements.

"Before, I could only play as a defensive midfielder, but now, I can play as an attacking midfielder like I did in some games at the WAFU Cup, and I can also play as a support striker.

"Also, I never used to score goals, but I scored three goals at the WAFU Cup, and it is all because of what Siasia told me. I believe I am a better player because of him."

That was not the first time Okpako would suffer rejection. Starting his league career with Bendel United in 2005, Okpako left them when the club were relegated that year. But he was turned away by city rivals Insurance when he attempted to join them for the following season.

With nowhere else to go, the midfielder spent a full season at home before packing his bags and heading up north to join Kano Pillars at the end of the 2006 season.

"I just didn’t know what to door where to go after Insurance rejected me. But I always believed that God would make a way for me."

Over the weekend, Okpako was one of six players from the domestic league named by Lars Lagerback in his 44-man provisional World Cup squad, and he says it did not come to him as a surprise, after consistent performances with Pillars.

"From the way I have been playing, I believed that I would be invited," he said.

Now, it is time for him to go one step further and prove his worth on the biggest stage of all
"All I can do is go there and give my best. If the coach likes what I do, maybe I can make it. But I don’t want to think about anything but how to work hard and give my best."

Solomon Okpako Fact File:

Date of Birth: May 1, 1990
State of Origin: Delta State
Height: 5'7
Weight: 68 kg
Position: Holding midfield
Other positions: Central Midfield, Support Striker
Previous clubs: Bendel United 2005,
Current club: Kano Pillars

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Promo: 2010-04-20 15:16

At least he never bad Mouthed Siasia,even after dropping him. Now this one Humble player who loves the game and always wants to learn. Take note Larger and CO.

Bibby: 2010-04-20 15:31

Did any1 notice that this guy described exactly how Mikel plays with Chelsea. That is what Sia1 condemned, hopefully, Lagerfront too can observed that and improve him (Mikel) for us.

9ja Voice: 2010-04-20 16:17

@Bibby....leave Mikel alone. He is a chelsea player and has played under many great coaches. They never condemed his style. Rather he is part of their team.

Makalele the best in this position never scored

Birikiti: 2010-04-20 17:15

Hi folks, just a thot to all those who think people are overly excited by Lars' list.

1) Hitherto, there was no competition for shirts in the SE, we all could name the players with 90% accuracy. Whether these players were fit or not was not an issue, they will always play! Well, now Lars has come out to say all will have an equal chance; this can only mean one thing "competition for shirts" which is what we need

2) No one can dispute that most of our finest players, at the moment, were in Angola but were they at their best? NO!! Why was this? Your guess is as good as mine. We all know what a change in coaches can do to a team (Barcelona Rijkard - Guardiola; Chelsea Scolari - Huddink; Cameroun Pfister - Le Guen etc) This is the factor we are banking on. Believe me, the Yak under Largerbak will be completely different from the Yak under... you know who! Same for most other players & anyway if they don't improve their play, they can be sure they won't be pick on sentiments like it happened at Angola.

3) The difference between the team @ Angola & the one to South Africa might not be much in terms of the playing personnel but it will be in the tactical awareness of the coach & the attitude of the players.
Our former coach could not get the players to play with all their hearts for Nigeria & that was his undoing more than anything (He shot himself in the foot by not allowing competition for shirts period).

kent: 2010-04-20 18:03

How can this man be 19 years old? So he last played for Bendel United when he was 14 or 15 years old.

Kayode: 2010-04-20 18:55

This guy had better kept quiet because he had already casting dark shadow on Siasia's 'achievements'. If Coach Siasia dropped him in 2005 for the U-21 when he was supposed to be 15 years and playing for Bendel United, a proffessional club by then..........

God Bless my country Nigeria.

Kayode: 2010-04-20 18:56

This guy had better kept quiet because he had already casting dark shadow on Siasia's 'achievements'. If Coach Siasia dropped him in 2005 for the U-21 when he was supposed to be 15 years and playing for Bendel United, a proffessional club by then..........

God Bless my country Nigeria.

Nero: 2010-04-20 19:37

Does calling for AGE CHEATERS again, is this guy the only footballer that player for a professional team at the age of 15 before? Even Amed Musa, our own league highest goal scorer is how old? Learn to be positive.

Nero: 2010-04-20 19:37

1. Why did a team (Eagles B) with so much potential lose to minnows Niger Republic?
2. Why was the Eagles B unable to score a single goal in two legs against Niger Republic only to score 14 goals in five matches against stronger opposition?

Don’t you think that the absence of good and proper planning and selection interference and the venue for the home-leg by NFF is the cause? Playing at Kano is more or less playing at Niger. Just a thought!

mike: 2010-04-20 20:32

THIS IS WHAT I TERM AS DEDICATION AND ZILL? FOR THE FACT SIASIA DROPPED HIM AND HE WORKED HARD OVER HIS LAPSES WITHOUT CRITICISM AND STILL PRAISE SIASIA AS A GOOD COACH. PLAYER SKY WILL BE UR LIMIT FOR BEING OPTIMISTIC. GOOD LUCK

Segun: 2010-04-20 23:26

Games like Espanyol vs Barca and Inter vs Barca are what a good tactician needs to fashion out a way of keeping Messi quiet. I hope Lars does his homework very well and I pity Maradona if he intends banking on his star players alone in the world cup. Right tactics could be the deciding factor at the end of the day and not reliance on already-***ged out players.

Nwachinemere: 2010-04-20 23:41

Inter beat Barcelona 3-1.Messi was no where to be found in the game,may be the S/Eagles can learn one or two things from that game Larger B,take note.

Eric: 2010-04-21 02:41

@Birikiti, we definitely share the same thoughts. Give the same ingredients to another cook, the food will taste differently.

ken gadaffi: 2010-04-21 04:35

The defeat of Barca by inter has once again proved the unpredictability of football. Results in recent time has seen great upsets. Wigan came from 2 goals down to beat A r senal, Chelsea fell to Spurs and stuffs like that.

All these results give one hope that our darling SE could spring a surprise come June 12 against Argentina. I have a feeling that Barca were hard done by the 14 hours bus trip to Italy. This certain points to the fact that Fatigue can affect a team and i do hope that come June most of the top players may have become jaded after a very long season. This might just play into the hands of the lesser teams especially Nigeria whose bulk of players have been warming the bench all through the season.

Football is never 1+1= 2 thus we can still remain hopeful until the last hour.

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

uche20 : 2010-04-21 07:54

siasia would have made a betta coach. i am stil rooting 4 him.

Leonard: 2010-04-21 10:39

This young man was with B.United in 2005,he left them when they got relegated,stayed a full season at home b/f joining Kano pillars........and he is just turning 20 next month?

spiffy : 2010-04-21 10:49

still 20?

Shijo: 2010-04-21 11:15

@Ken Gaddafi, thank you for your post. However, the mentality of the players is another factor. Do our players have that mentality to take advantage of the fatigue of the other players? Only the coach can develop that mentality in them.....

As for the Inter-Barca match, Mourinho tactics was to plug the midfield tight, and start to break the Barca attack right from the midfield. Then when they attack, they attack in numbers. Messi was frustrated as the Inter players would stick to him like leech once he gets the ball. Moreover, he almost always cuts to his left, any time he starts to make a run. They had studied him and knew how to frustrate him. Lagerback should see how Messi can be neutralized.

I doff my hat for Mourinho. If he gets past Barca, then he will no doubt be the best coach in the world, even above Ferguson, Wenger, Van Gaal, etc

gerry: 2010-04-21 12:43

@shijo, though Mourinho did his magic on barca last, that doesn't mean that he is better than the other managers that you listed.

After all, Atletico madrid hammered Barca as well. it doesn't not mean Atletico's manager is better than others.

stdennis: 2010-04-21 13:08

@ultrasound nigeria or what do u cal urself? I can see dat u both re birds of a feather. With tribalists lik u & Sarah, Nigeria ll never move forward.I stil maintain her statement is wrong. In as much as I luv Eneramo, Anichebe and want them 2be at d mundial,except Utaka, no reasonable coach ll drop fit Martins 4any of dem bcos he is more experienced dan them.

Afeez: 2010-04-21 13:45

Siasia Makes Case For Rabiu Ibrahim
Africaplays.com
Former Nigeria U-20, and Olympics team coach Samson Siasia has advised the Super Eagles coach Lars Lagerback to give creative midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim a chance in his World Cup squad.


Siasia explained that the Sporting Lisbon player and Emmanuel Ekpo, who plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, can solve Nigeria's attacking midfield problems.


"I can tell you sincerely that only two players stand a better chance to hold the attacking midfield and they are Rabiu Ibrahim and Emmanuel Ekpo," Complete Sports quotes Siasia as saying.


"These players have proved what they can do in a major competition like the Olympics and they should be allowed to continue like that because football is all about the youths."


The diminutive Rabiu Ibrahim who was Nigeria's playmaker at the U-20 World Cup in Egypt last year, has shone for Nigeria at youth levels. Many pundits expected Lagerback to at least give him a try, as the Eagles search for a missing playmaker.


The 19 year-old may be paying the price for his poor club form. Sporting loaned him to Portuguese second division two side Real Massama 'to mature', but the Kano-born player is still yet to impress.


Rabiu Ibrahim led Nigeria's U-17 squad to World Cup victory in Korea 2007. He has been hailed as the new "Jay Jay" and not many would have been surprised if he got a call-up to the World Cup squad.


A Goal.com report in October claimed that the player's contract with Sporting will end this June, and that the player's agent Betram Ekenwa rejected new offers by the club.


"After they put forward the first contract, we asked for a review. We were also not happy with the reviewed deal and so rejected it. Above every other consideration, we want his sporting needs fully catered for," Ekenwa told Goal.com then.


"I want only the best for my player. He deserves all he gets. He has a great future ahead of him, a fact which the club also agree with.


"Sporting have to fulfill all the conditions stipulated in the first contract with the player so that they could be in a position to negotiate for the new contract."


However there have been no reports of any new contracts.

ken gadaffi: 2010-04-21 17:29

@shijo, Thanks for your comments. In fact I am beginning to fall in love with Mourinho. He is indeed the special one. It will take something really special for barca to knock Inter out as things are now.

By the way, messi seems to be invisible only at the NOU CAMP. Has anyone noticed that of Messi has only scored one goal away from the Nou Camp all season? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm thats looks like a good Omen for the Super Eagles come SA with messi forgeting his scoring boot at the NOU camp.


THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Emperor: 2010-04-26 18:55

Kpako boy! this your name sounds funny anyway, I must say kudos for your achievement and your improvement so far, more especially your respect and regard for the coach that dropped you.
but one thing i don't agree with you is the age you claimed, you want to tell us you played in Nigerian league at the age of 15? please is time we stop all this cheat, I don't know you in person neither have I seen your picture, onething i know is that you must be above 20yrs when you played for bendel united 5yrs ago, maybe your age is diminishing, you fit kpako other people, no be person like me...hahaha.

enagemahgodspower@yahoo.com : 2011-03-29 12:25

ok