Samson Siasia, Nigeria’s Bronze-winning coach at the just concluded Olympics in Brazil, has stated that his contract ended with the tournament, stressing that all that is left is his months of owed salaries.
The Nigeria Football Federation officials had on Sunday, August 28, 2016, stated that they are not expecting any letter of resignation from the national U23 coach, as his contract ended with the Rio Olympics, adding that the former Super Eagles international was free to move on.
Siasia who also spoke with the Punch newspaper on Sunday corroborated the NFF statement of his contract having ended but demanded that his outstanding salary be paid him.
“This is not really resignation; my contract was arranged to end with the Olympics. And so the contract has ended,” Siasia said.
“What is very important is that I get every kobo that I am owed. I need the money now than ever and I believe I have really endured and I have been cooperative.”
The coach who also won Silver in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, did not however completely deny the resignation story that made the headlines by the weekend.
“I spoke with a reporter but I guess the one who are referring to was extracted from the interview I granted somebody else. What I was asked was my entire story at the Olympics and this included Atlanta camping.
“Of course a lot of things happened that I can’t be really happy about especially the way the team was portrayed. But that is over as my contract has also actually ended. What is left now is my cash and that is very, very important,” he said.
Siasia and his friends are hoping that the FA should be able to sort out his bills quickly as they have been able to appoint a new coach from Germany for the Eagles.
An official of the federation said they treated the coach and his players as best as they could under the situation they found themselves.
“But if you are asking about getting any letter, we have not received any and we don’t expect any. The usual deal is with the All Africa Games and then running through the Olympics and that is what he has completed. There is no immediate U23 competition and so he couldn’t have continued,” he said
