Former Super Eagles manager, Samson Siasia, has faulted the uncomplimentary remarks made by Coach Stephen Keshi about out-of-favour marksman Ike Uche, rising in defence of the Villarreal of Spain striker.

Siasia said today in Daily Newswatch that it was hard for him to believe that Ike Uche could display indiscipline tendency having been in the national team for sometimes.

The former Flying Eagles’ coach hinted that Uche never displayed any act of indiscipline when he was playing under him.

“Honestly, I find it difficult to believe that Uche is not disciplined because throughout my reign in the national team, I never found him wanting. He is level headed and goes about his job in camp gently. I can vouch for his integrity,” he declared. He noted that Uche might not have had a good outing at the last Nations Cup but added it was not enough reasons to keep him out of the team for so long.

“He was the team’s leading goal scorer during the Nations Cup qualifiers and copped an injury before the competition started. He was just returning from the injury when the Nations Cup kicked off and could not pick form during the tournament. This is natural in football. But now the guy is in good form having scored 12 goals for Villarreal this season already,” Siasia noted.

News Express reports that Keshi had claimed that Ike Uche, arguably Nigeria’s hottest striker at the moment, was not invited to the Eagles’ pre-Brazil 2014 World Cup camp due to indiscipline. The excuse has raised eyebrows following the invitation extended to struggling skipper Joseph Yobo, who publicly quarreled with Keshi, and feelers that the door has not been shut against striker Osaze Odemwingie whose streak of indiscipline is legendary.

•Photo shows striker Ike Uche.