By Kate Obodo
Former U-23 national team coach  Samson Siasia has thrown his weight behind the decision of  Super Eagles Technical Adviser Lars Lagerback  to  select only  players who feature regularly  in their clubs as the team prepares for the FIFA World Cup this summer in South Africa.

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In what seems like a warning to foreign based players who believe they have automatic shirts in the Super Eagles, the Swede  said a first team place for the players in their various clubs will be used as standard to select them for the World Cup.

Lagerback made this known to Portsmouth striker Nwankwo Kanu, that he and other players who have the intension of playing at the World Cup  need to start featuring in their clubs regularly.

Siasia, who many Nigerians believe should have been given the job to lead Nigeria to South Africa, tpold Saturday Vanguard sports that the decision by Lagerback is a brilliant idea, because according to him, the time is very short and these players need to be selected on merit.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea and a wise decision, if you ask me. Of course players  ought to feature regularly in their clubs for a coach to know their capability. I think the whole essence is to build a solid team for the World Cup especially with the short time that we have. I support him on this decision.

If they want to be among the players who will make it to the  World Cup in South Africa, they  have to prove their capability in their various clubs. I think any player that will feature in the competition should be selected on merit and not just because he is a national team player.

The team selection should not be based on sentiment, all we have to do is make sure the players come on time for their training and also blend before the World Cup”,
he  said.

On the engagement of former Enyimba coach Austin Eguavoen and  Daniel Amokachi as Lagerback’s assistants, Siasia said he has no problem with it as he believes  both coaches are very good for the job.

“I don’t have any problem with them, both coaches are great coaches. The only thing is to wish them well in their endeavour”, he said.