Chief Coach of the national Under-23 male team, Samson Siasia, for the umpteenth time, has charged World Cup winner safe hands, Dele Alampasu, to prove himself in training before he can be guaranteed a shirt in the team.
While defending the invitation of the former Golden Eaglets keeper to the U-23 team camp, Siasia said every good player would be given a chance to prove himself to earn a shirt in the team.
According to him, Alampasu still has something to offer the country.
He noted that not having a club is not important to him, stressing that the goalkeeper who was a member of the last Under-17 team that won the FIFA World Cup at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a talent that should not be left to waste away.
He said: “Let me be very honest as regards the issue of Dele Alampasu, I invited him based on what I have seen as regards his goalkeeping qualities. These qualities Aloy Agu, our goalkeeping coach, has also attested to.
“The issue of not having a club or Dele not playing for a team now does not really matter to me; so far he can prove himself in our training and he is at the level we require, he will always be a part of the team.
“I don’t know this guy from anywhere than watching him play at the 2013 FIFA U- 17 World Cup in the UAE. Later he was also in Manu Garba’s team to New Zealand or the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“That is to show that he has that quality in him that the coaches have seen to make the grade age national teams. I should be seen not to kill his spirit, but to encourage him. So I need to give him a chance to fight for a shirt in the team, like I have given to others and will still give.
“So it is important for me to help him complete the circle and also give him the opportunity to fight for shirts in the team. If he makes the regular squad, then its fine; if not, somebody else will play in that position.”
Alampasu is one of the several Flying Eagles players that the former Super Eagles chief coach extended invitation to. The other players are Kelechi Iheanacho, Musa Yahaya, Moses Simon, Musa Muhammed, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kingsley Sokari and Saviour Godwin.
