Beijing Olympics: Dream Team IV players kick against Mikel’s inclusion

Niyi Alebiosu, Lagos - 09.05.2008

Falilat OgunkoyaAs opinion continue to differ on whether Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi should be included in the Dream Team IV to the Beijing Olympics or not, most of the players already invited by coach Samson Siasia have expressed reservation about the player being in the team to China later in the year.

The players have, however, thrown their weight behind Siasia’s decision to exclude the player from the squad, saying the coach’s decision is final and that he (coach) should be allowed to concentrate on the task ahead.

Some of the players who spoke with Tribunesports on condition of anonymity argued that Obi was given enough opportunity to prove himself during the qualifying series but he failed, most importantly during the last match against the Amaglug-glug of South Africa after failing to show up in the crucial match against Ghana.

“He was pardoned after he and Taiye Taiwo failed to honour the match against Ghana. He was given another chance, yet he failed. So, he was not part of the success story. Now that the list of players for the games was released and he was excluded, people are complaining. I wonder why they are pleading for him,” one of the players said.

Another player was of the view that no player is greater than the country, submitting that Obi sees himself as too big to be in the U-23 squad.

“Obi should be the first to honour national team invitation if invited by coach Siasia because without the coach, nobody would have known him but he has now turned his back against the same coach that made him.

“I want to tell you that if Obi eventually makes the team, there will be crisis because all of us are not happy with him and we have resolved to go to China and make the country proud without him.

“We are begging you people (Nigerians) to please let our coach be. Even if we fail to win the gold at the Beijing Olympics, we are ready to take full responsibility and it should not be because Obi is not in the team. I want to assure you that the team will do well without him. We are up to the task and with the support of Nigerians, the 2008 Olympics football gold will be in Nigeria by September,” said the U-23 player.