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Even though most followers of the Nigerian team at the Beijing Olympics feel that Solomon Okorokwo has contributed little to the team, Siasia's Dutch ally, Simon Kalika, thinks otherwise.
Okoronkwo is a utility player in the team, he asserted.
"If you watch the game against Holland, Okoronkwo often fell back into the midfield and helped to curtail the Dutch, who would have had an advantage of an extra man because of the formation they employed," explained Kalika.
He said Everton's Victor Anichebe comes in later in the game because the he is nursing a slight injury and cannot play full 90 minutes.
Kalika also pointed out that Chinedu Ogbuke is another star in the team, confessing the technical crew is having a problem of stars' glut.
"We have six good players for four positions. We have to be alternating them till we get the right mix," he said.
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Coach Samson Siasia has parried suggestions that his Nigeria Olympic men's team would have had a better prospect going into the last round of matches had the US not conceded a last-minute equaliser to the Netherlands on Sunday.
There was some blistering criticism for the Nigeria team's wasted opportunities, but its two wonderful team goals sealed the fate of Japan, which also lost to the 'Dream Team', as the Nigerian team is known, on the latter's march to Olympic gold in Atlanta 12 years ago.
"I don't see what people are talking about. At this level, no team comes round to make up the number. The Japanese were solid and well-organised, and we should pat our team on the back for a good outing.
"Of course, this is the Olympics and to win Olympic gold is not easy. Nothing good comes easy. If we have to win Olympic gold, which we want to, there can be no talk of taking it easy or having easy game at any point in the campaign.
"We are here to take each match as it comes, not looking for an easy fixture," he said.
Nigeria's Dream Team takes on the American side at the Workers Stadium in Beijing on Wednesday.
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The suspension of Onyekachi Apam and Chibuzor Okonkwo has thrown the pair of Ambrose Efe and Monday James into the fray, as Nigeria faces the US in the last group game of Group B of the Olympics men's football event on Wednesday
Apam got a yellow card in the goalless draw with Netherlands at the Tianjin Olympics Centre, and then bagged another one in the 89th minute of the 2-1 victory over Japan at the same venue on Sunday.
Okonkwo, on the other hand, got his second caution in the 16th minute after the referee found him guilty of simulation, hoping to get a penalty kick.
He had earlier been cautioned in the match against Holland last Thursday
James, who will now taste action, won silver with Nigeria at the 2005 World Youth Championship in the Netherlands, while Ambrose played a big part in the Nigeria team's march to the quarterfinals in Canada last year, and in the qualifying series.
Ambrose, who has overcome controversial health diagnosis and visa issues to arrive at the Olympics, said: "I am ready and willing, if the coach picks me. I don't feel any problem. America must fall".
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Dutch coach Johannes Bonfrere, the man who led the Nigeria U-23 team to win Africa's first Olympic football gold in the USA 12 years ago, is in Beijing to feel the matches and offer wise counsel to the Dream Team, as the Nigerian team is known.
The man who also led the Super Eagles to African Cup of Nations silver in 2000, but was bumped after a calamitous start to the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, has been sighted severally in China, first at the Sheraton Tianjin Hotel where Nigeria stayed to play his native Netherlands and Japan, and in Beijing, where it is due to play the US on Wednesday.
Bonfere has been seen talking to the Nigerian head coach Samson Siasia.
The Nigerian head coach missed the cut for the over-age quota in Nigeria's 1996 winning team, but also played at the Olympics previously, when Nigeria lost out in Seoul in 1988.
Siasia's assistant, Henry Nwosu, who like Siasia captained the Nigeria senior team, played twice at the Olympics, scoring Nigeria's goal in the 1-1 draw with eventual winner Czechoslovakia in the USSR in 1980 and joining up for the Seoul '88 event.
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The Nigeria Football Federation has made it clear that striker Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi will complete the Olympics assignment with Nigeria, despite reported pressure from his German Club, 1899 Hoffenheim.
The 22-year old did much to help Hoffenheim back to the German elite division at the end of last season.
But the Club has refused to show enough gratitude when it tried to hold down the young man from travelling to the Olympics.
Now, Hoffenheim is putting pressure on the young man to return to Germany from China.
"It is not going to happen. Obasi is here till the end of the Olympics. No one will force him to return to Germany," said NFF General Secretary Bolaji Ojo-Oba.
Team coach Samson Siasia said: "We are aware of some pressure but Obasi is here for the Olympics and will conclude the assignment with Nigeria."
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