By Kate Obodo

The face-off between Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia and West Brom striker, Osaze Odemwingie has been generating comments from football lovers and personalities and former Golden Eaglets and Falcons coach, Godwin Izilein has added his voice to it.

Izilein said at the weekend that the issue should  not be prolonged unnecessarily even as he called on Siasia to forgive the player and bury the hatchet for the sake of the country.

According to Izilein, one of the qualities of a good coach is to tolerate the behaviour of his players as well as being able to manage them, stressing that for the team to make it in the qualifiers, Siasia should  manage his players very well.

“I am one of those that believe that the Super Eagles will be better, if only we can have the patience to allow the coach do what he is employed to do. First and foremost, we should not hurry him, especially to do what he is not supposed to do, so that at the end he will not apportion blames to anybody. That is not to say that he should not listen to any advice. The first point is this; I am seriously pleading with him, that no matter what, he should not listen to too much side talks concerning his job. He should take Osaze Odemwingie as his own son despite his wrong doings. That boy is an asset to the national team no matter what.  If Odemwingie can not wrong his coach who else will. This thing should be settled amicably outside the team.

On the inclusion of Danny Shittu in the national team for the remaining two matches of the qualifiers as canvassed by Joseph Yobo, he said: “if he is suitable, I am not against him, but we want those who are currently in form. Nigeria is very sensitive, the day he (Siasia) does any thing contrary to their agreement they will ask him to go. So he should be careful on his selection and what he listens to, which should only be a very sensitive area.

Continuing on the rift between the coach and his player, he said: “Of course, nobody supported him but whatever he must have done should be forgiven for the sake of this country. I have a philosophy as a coach,  when you spank your players, you should be able to bring them back because they will still be useful to you. Because you do not expect all your players to be of the same character.

The most important thing is the end result of your decision, whatever he has done forgive him and bring him back but if you allow a player that is highly marketable for us to be out for this period, thenit becomes a minus minus to us.

On Nigeria’s chances in the qualifiers he said: “I am very optimistic that we will qualifier, but if we manage our players very well. Like the case of Osaze we will achieve,” he said.