By Fidelis Ebu, Abuja
Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Samson Siasia has told his players that both the foreign-based and home-based players are equal and would be treated as such  while in camp just as his technical assistant, Simon Kalika expressed that there would be no automatic shirt for any player.

TWO GOOD KEEPERS: Super Eagles goalkeepers, Dele Aiyenugba (r) and Bassey Akpan loosening up before the international friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos. Nigeria beat S/Leone 2-1. Phot: Sylva Eleanya

In a chat with Sports Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, Siasia said there was nothing like ‘big boys’ in the team. “All players are equal and will be treated same,” Siasia said

“I started applying equal treatment to all during our friendly game against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone when I paired two in a room in their hotel. Ordinarily, some of those who want to regard themselves as big boys would want to have a room to themselves, but I insisted they must pair in the room including the team captain, Joseph Yobo. With this type of arrangement, they will establish good rapport among themselves.

This was to avoid a situation where the foreign_based would be on their own, leaving the home_based players out. Everybody would be treated equally in the team,” he reiterated.”

He however emphasised that same sleeping arrangement would be repeated when the players converge next month for the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia in Abuja.

Siasia’s assistant, Simon Kalika enthused that there would be no automatic shirt for any player irrespective of his track record.

“There would be no automatic shirt for any player in the team. Whoever  wants to be in the team  must work for his shirt”, Simon Kalika said.

He expressed that the recent friendly against Sierra Leone had shown that there was no point giving preferential treatment to the foreign_based.

“Though the game against Sierra Leone provided an opportunity for my first official union with players of the Super Eagles, I’ve discovered that they are all equal. All the known big stars were invited but some suddenly got knocked down with injuries and could not play yety we were able to win the game without them.

“From our next assemblage, a good number of them would be invited to fight for their shirts in the team as there would be no automatic shirt for anybody”, Kalika added.